diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
index a048b11f1d3..4096f777abe 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class Task(object):
         self.tags         = [ 'all' ]
         self.register     = ds.get('register', None)
         self.sudo         = utils.boolean(ds.get('sudo', play.sudo))
-        self.su           = utils.boolean(ds.get('sudo', play.su))
+        self.su           = utils.boolean(ds.get('su', play.su))
         self.environment  = ds.get('environment', {})
         self.role_name    = role_name