diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play_context.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play_context.py
index 1f0a04f4cb..4e5649ce7d 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play_context.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play_context.py
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ class PlayContext(Base):
 
         if self.become:
 
-            if executable is None:
+            if not executable:
                 executable = self.executable
 
             becomecmd   = None