diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/gather_subset_defaults.yml b/changelogs/fragments/gather_subset_defaults.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7db2ef753af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/gather_subset_defaults.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+    - Gather facts should use gather_subset config by default.
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
index 2eb0c743750..2d6e3d4e48c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class Play(Base, Taggable, CollectionSearch):
 
     # Facts
     _gather_facts = FieldAttribute(isa='bool', default=None, always_post_validate=True)
-    _gather_subset = FieldAttribute(isa='list', default=None, listof=string_types, always_post_validate=True)
+    _gather_subset = FieldAttribute(isa='list', default=(lambda: C.DEFAULT_GATHER_SUBSET), listof=string_types, always_post_validate=True)
     _gather_timeout = FieldAttribute(isa='int', default=C.DEFAULT_GATHER_TIMEOUT, always_post_validate=True)
     _fact_path = FieldAttribute(isa='string', default=C.DEFAULT_FACT_PATH)