diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
index 8d81424f09e..47bfd79b0b4 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ class Play(object):
         _tasks    = ds.pop('tasks', [])
         _handlers = ds.pop('handlers', [])
 
-        temp_vars = utils.merge_hash(self.vars, self.vars_file_vars)
-        temp_vars = utils.merge_hash(temp_vars, self.playbook.extra_vars)
+        temp_vars = utils.combine_vars(self.vars, self.vars_file_vars)
+        temp_vars = utils.combine_vars(temp_vars, self.playbook.extra_vars)
 
         ds = template(basedir, ds, temp_vars)
         ds['tasks'] = _tasks
@@ -632,9 +632,9 @@ class Play(object):
                     dirname = os.path.dirname(original_file)
 
                 # temp vars are used here to avoid trampling on the existing vars structures
-                temp_vars = utils.merge_hash(self.vars, self.vars_file_vars)
-                temp_vars = utils.merge_hash(temp_vars, mv)
-                temp_vars = utils.merge_hash(temp_vars, self.playbook.extra_vars)
+                temp_vars = utils.combine_vars(self.vars, self.vars_file_vars)
+                temp_vars = utils.combine_vars(temp_vars, mv)
+                temp_vars = utils.combine_Vars(temp_vars, self.playbook.extra_vars)
                 include_file = template(dirname, tokens[0], temp_vars)
                 include_filename = utils.path_dwim(dirname, include_file)
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
index 7a693cc8d01..15845c6929a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ class Runner(object):
     def get_combined_cache(self):
         # merge the VARS and SETUP caches for this host
         combined_cache = self.setup_cache.copy()
-        return utils.merge_hash(combined_cache, self.vars_cache)
+        return utils.combine_vars(combined_cache, self.vars_cache)
 
     def get_inject_vars(self, host):
         host_variables = self.inventory.get_variables(host, vault_password=self.vault_pass)