diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
index 7f4fd8cb1f3..5402ee530e5 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import pipes
 # holds all other variables about a host
 SETUP_CACHE = ansible.cache.FactCache()
 VARS_CACHE  = collections.defaultdict(dict)
+RESERVED_TAGS = ['all','tagged','untagged','always']
 
 
 class PlayBook(object):
@@ -314,6 +315,7 @@ class PlayBook(object):
             assert play is not None
 
             matched_tags, unmatched_tags = play.compare_tags(self.only_tags)
+
             matched_tags_all = matched_tags_all | matched_tags
             unmatched_tags_all = unmatched_tags_all | unmatched_tags
 
@@ -332,10 +334,13 @@ class PlayBook(object):
         # the user can correct the arguments.
         unknown_tags = ((set(self.only_tags) | set(self.skip_tags)) -
                         (matched_tags_all | unmatched_tags_all))
-        unknown_tags.discard('all')
+
+        for t in RESERVED_TAGS:
+            unknown_tags.discard(t)
 
         if len(unknown_tags) > 0:
-            unmatched_tags_all.discard('all')
+            for t in RESERVED_TAGS:
+                unmatched_tags_all.discard(t)
             msg = 'tag(s) not found in playbook: %s.  possible values: %s'
             unknown = ','.join(sorted(unknown_tags))
             unmatched = ','.join(sorted(unmatched_tags_all))
@@ -730,19 +735,37 @@ class PlayBook(object):
                     # skip calling the handler till the play is finished
                     continue
 
-                # only run the task if the requested tags match
+                # only run the task if the requested tags match or has 'always' tag
                 should_run = False
-                for x in self.only_tags:
+                if 'always' in task.tags:
+                    should_run = True
+                else:
+                    u = set(['untagged'])
+                    task_set = set(task.tags)
 
-                    for y in task.tags:
-                        if x == y:
+                    if 'all' in self.only_tags:
+                        should_run = True
+                    elif 'tagged' in self.only_tags:
+                        if task_set != u:
+                            should_run = True
+                    elif 'untagged' in self.only_tags:
+                        if task_set == u:
+                            should_run = True
+                    else:
+                        if len(set(task.tags).intersection(self.only_tags)) > 0:
                             should_run = True
-                            break
 
-                # Check for tags that we need to skip
-                if should_run:
-                    if any(x in task.tags for x in self.skip_tags):
-                        should_run = False
+                    # Check for tags that we need to skip
+                    if 'tagged' in self.skip_tags:
+                        if task_set == u:
+                            should_run = False
+                    elif 'untagged' in self.only_tags:
+                        if task_set != u:
+                            should_run = False
+                    else:
+                        if should_run:
+                            if len(set(task.tags).intersection(self.skip_tags)) > 0:
+                                should_run = False
 
                 if should_run:
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
index 74aa6a9f798..f1b3aacfad9 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
@@ -783,8 +783,27 @@ class Play(object):
         # compare the lists of tags using sets and return the matched and unmatched
         all_tags_set = set(all_tags)
         tags_set = set(tags)
-        matched_tags = all_tags_set & tags_set
-        unmatched_tags = all_tags_set - tags_set
+
+        matched_tags = all_tags_set.intersection(tags_set)
+        unmatched_tags = all_tags_set.difference(tags_set)
+
+        a = set(['always'])
+        u = set(['untagged'])
+        if 'always' in all_tags_set:
+            matched_tags = matched_tags.union(a)
+            unmatched_tags = all_tags_set.difference(a)
+
+        if 'all' in tags_set:
+            matched_tags = matched_tags.union(all_tags_set)
+            unmatched_tags = set()
+
+        if 'tagged' in tags_set:
+            matched_tags = all_tags_set.difference(u)
+            unmatched_tags = u
+
+        if 'untagged' in tags_set and 'untagged' in all_tags_set:
+            matched_tags = matched_tags.union(u)
+            unmatched_tags = unmatched_tags.difference(u)
 
         return matched_tags, unmatched_tags
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
index bdffba5527c..f9a090b3636 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class Task(object):
 
         # load various attributes
         self.name         = ds.get('name', None)
-        self.tags         = [ 'all' ]
+        self.tags         = [ 'untagged' ]
         self.register     = ds.get('register', None)
         self.sudo         = utils.boolean(ds.get('sudo', play.sudo))
         self.su           = utils.boolean(ds.get('su', play.su))
@@ -316,6 +316,9 @@ class Task(object):
                 self.tags.extend(apply_tags)
         self.tags.extend(import_tags)
 
+        if len(self.tags) > 1:
+            self.tags.remove('untagged')
+
         if additional_conditions:
             new_conditions = additional_conditions[:]
             if self.when: