diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
index 05c515c7261..cf145c5631a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ class Role(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
                         data = combine_vars(data, new_data)
                     else:
                         data = new_data
-                    return data
+                return data
             elif main is not None:
                 raise AnsibleParserError("Could not find specified file in role: %s/%s" % (subdir, main))
         return None
diff --git a/test/units/playbook/role/test_role.py b/test/units/playbook/role/test_role.py
index 3730b43d56f..b902aeca755 100644
--- a/test/units/playbook/role/test_role.py
+++ b/test/units/playbook/role/test_role.py
@@ -249,6 +249,28 @@ class TestRole(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(r._default_vars, dict(foo='bar'))
         self.assertEqual(r._role_vars, dict(foo='bam'))
 
+    @patch('ansible.playbook.role.definition.unfrackpath', mock_unfrackpath_noop)
+    def test_load_role_with_vars_nested_dirs_combined(self):
+
+        fake_loader = DictDataLoader({
+            "/etc/ansible/roles/foo_vars/defaults/main/foo/bar.yml": """
+            foo: bar
+            a: 1
+            """,
+            "/etc/ansible/roles/foo_vars/defaults/main/bar/foo.yml": """
+            foo: bam
+            b: 2
+            """,
+        })
+
+        mock_play = MagicMock()
+        mock_play.ROLE_CACHE = {}
+
+        i = RoleInclude.load('foo_vars', play=mock_play, loader=fake_loader)
+        r = Role.load(i, play=mock_play)
+
+        self.assertEqual(r._default_vars, dict(foo='bar', a=1, b=2))
+
     @patch('ansible.playbook.role.definition.unfrackpath', mock_unfrackpath_noop)
     def test_load_role_with_vars_dir_vs_file(self):