diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py b/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
index fd59478ead9..23ba52edf93 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
@@ -399,6 +399,9 @@ class PlayIterator:
         if state.fail_state != self.FAILED_NONE:
             return state
 
+        if not task_list:
+            return state
+
         if state.run_state == self.ITERATING_TASKS:
             if state.tasks_child_state:
                 state.tasks_child_state = self._insert_tasks_into_state(state.tasks_child_state, task_list)