diff --git a/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py b/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py
index 9bea4ee7..2cadddbe 100644
--- a/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py
+++ b/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ class PlayContextSpec(Spec):
         )
 
     def ssh_args(self):
-        variables = self._task_vars["vars"].get("vars", {})
+        variables = self._task_vars.get("vars", {})
         return [
             mitogen.core.to_text(term)
             for s in (