diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
index 003d2e8050..15a47494c9 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ def role_spec_parse(role_spec):
     # }
   
     role_spec = role_spec.strip()
-    role_version = ''
+    role_version = 'master'
     if role_spec == "" or role_spec.startswith("#"):
         return (None, None, None, None)