diff --git a/lib/ansible/template.py b/lib/ansible/template.py
index f88ab2b18ed..767266da04b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/template.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/template.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ import pwd
 _LISTRE = re.compile(r"(\w+)\[(\d+)\]")
 
 
-def _varFindLimitSpace(space, part, depth):
+def _varFindLimitSpace(vars, space, part, depth):
 
     # TODO: comments
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def _varFind(text, vars, depth=0):
             pass
         elif is_complex and text[end] == '.':
             if brace_level == part_start[1]:
-                space = _varFindLimitSpace(space, text[part_start[0]:end], depth)
+                space = _varFindLimitSpace(vars, space, text[part_start[0]:end], depth)
                 part_start = (end + 1, brace_level)
         else:
             break
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ def _varFind(text, vars, depth=0):
             return None
     if var_end == part_start[0]:
         return None
-    space = _varFindLimitSpace(space, text[part_start[0]:var_end], depth)
+    space = _varFindLimitSpace(vars, space, text[part_start[0]:var_end], depth)
     return {'replacement': space, 'start': start, 'end': end}
 
 def varReplace(raw, vars, depth=0, expand_lists=False):
diff --git a/test/TestUtils.py b/test/TestUtils.py
index ca958d7aa33..5c1df13bcb3 100644
--- a/test/TestUtils.py
+++ b/test/TestUtils.py
@@ -238,6 +238,28 @@ class TestUtils(unittest.TestCase):
         res = ansible.utils.varReplace(template, vars)
         assert res == 'action $foo'
 
+    def test_varReplace_var_part(self):
+        vars = {
+            'foo': {
+                'bar': 'result',
+            },
+            'key': 'bar',
+        }
+        template = 'test ${foo.$key}'
+        res = ansible.utils.varReplace(template, vars)
+        assert res == 'test result'
+
+    def test_varReplace_var_partial_part(self):
+        vars = {
+            'foo': {
+                'barbaz': 'result',
+            },
+            'key': 'bar',
+        }
+        template = 'test ${foo.${key}baz}'
+        res = ansible.utils.varReplace(template, vars)
+        assert res == 'test result'
+
     def test_template_varReplace_iterated(self):
         template = 'hello $who'
         vars = {