diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/__init__.py
index 5f5fc9eb159..1488b99ae0b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/__init__.py
@@ -172,7 +172,9 @@ class BaseInventoryPlugin(AnsiblePlugin):
 
         config = {}
         try:
-            config = self.loader.load_from_file(path)
+            # avoid loader cache so meta: refresh_inventory can pick up config changes
+            # if we read more than once, fs cache should be good enough
+            config = self.loader.load_from_file(path, cache=False)
         except Exception as e:
             raise AnsibleParserError(to_native(e))
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/auto.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/auto.py
index c2bd7f8ef57..62502c36cef 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/auto.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/auto.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class InventoryModule(BaseInventoryPlugin):
         return super(InventoryModule, self).verify_file(path)
 
     def parse(self, inventory, loader, path, cache=True):
-        config_data = loader.load_from_file(path)
+        config_data = loader.load_from_file(path, cache=False)
 
         plugin_name = config_data.get('plugin')
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/ini.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/ini.py
index 82d4e1899d6..93afcf1898f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/ini.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/ini.py
@@ -104,8 +104,7 @@ class InventoryModule(BaseFileInventoryPlugin):
         self._filename = path
 
         try:
-            # Read in the hosts, groups, and variables defined in the
-            # inventory file.
+            # Read in the hosts, groups, and variables defined in the inventory file.
             if self.loader:
                 (b_data, private) = self.loader._get_file_contents(path)
             else:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/yaml.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/yaml.py
index d9109177a90..bb050314674 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/yaml.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/yaml.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class InventoryModule(BaseFileInventoryPlugin):
         super(InventoryModule, self).parse(inventory, loader, path)
 
         try:
-            data = self.loader.load_from_file(path)
+            data = self.loader.load_from_file(path, cache=False)
         except Exception as e:
             raise AnsibleParserError(e)
 
diff --git a/test/units/mock/loader.py b/test/units/mock/loader.py
index 73817a46506..b9a02f7b694 100644
--- a/test/units/mock/loader.py
+++ b/test/units/mock/loader.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class DictDataLoader(DataLoader):
         self._build_known_directories()
         self._vault_secrets = None
 
-    def load_from_file(self, path, unsafe=False):
+    def load_from_file(self, path, cache=True, unsafe=False):
         if path in self._file_mapping:
             return self.load(self._file_mapping[path], path)
         return None