diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/assemble.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/assemble.py
index d8cb5f25577..c4ce6a7eeac 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/assemble.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/assemble.py
@@ -260,8 +260,7 @@ def main():
             result['validation'] = dict(rc=rc, stdout=out, stderr=err)
             if rc != 0:
                 cleanup(path)
-                result['msg'] = "failed to validate: rc:%s error:%s" % (rc, err)
-                module.fail_json(result)
+                module.fail_json(msg="failed to validate: rc:%s error:%s" % (rc, err))
         if backup and dest_hash is not None:
             result['backup_file'] = module.backup_local(dest)