diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
index 979260d2759..98b7f2f36b9 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
@@ -1494,7 +1494,7 @@ def _load_vars_from_path(path, results, vault_password=None):
                 % (path, err2.strerror, ))
         # follow symbolic link chains by recursing, so we repeat the same
         # permissions checks above and provide useful errors.
-        return _load_vars_from_path(target, results)
+        return _load_vars_from_path(target, results, vault_password)
 
     # directory
     if stat.S_ISDIR(pathstat.st_mode):