diff --git a/lib/ansible/inventory/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/inventory/__init__.py
index fdcbd37e78e..59a3c37bf93 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/inventory/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/inventory/__init__.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ class Inventory(object):
                 hosts = [ h for h in hosts if h in self._restriction ]
 
         HOSTS_PATTERNS_CACHE[pattern_hash] = hosts[:]
-        return hosts
+        return list(set(hosts))
 
     @classmethod
     def split_host_pattern(cls, pattern):