diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/29135-include_vars-check_for_main.yml b/changelogs/fragments/29135-include_vars-check_for_main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f4d766ea3c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/29135-include_vars-check_for_main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+- Enhance the conditional check to include main.yml if it is not from 'role/vars/' (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/51926).
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/include_vars.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/include_vars.py
index 7c274f1fbda..425aa79dd14 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/include_vars.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/include_vars.py
@@ -1,19 +1,5 @@
-# (c) 2016, Allen Sanabria <asanabria@linuxdynasty.org>
-#
-# This file is part of Ansible
-#
-# Ansible is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
-# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
-# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
-# (at your option) any later version.
-#
-# Ansible is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-# GNU General Public License for more details.
-#
-# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-# along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+# Copyright: (c) 2016, Allen Sanabria <asanabria@linuxdynasty.org>
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
 __metaclass__ = type
@@ -265,7 +251,7 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
             stop_iter = False
             # Never include main.yml from a role, as that is the default included by the role
             if self._task._role:
-                if filename == 'main.yml':
+                if path.join(self._task._role._role_path, filename) == path.join(root_dir, 'vars', 'main.yml'):
                     stop_iter = True
                     continue