diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/template.py b/lib/ansible/utils/template.py
index 8ec27ac097..7848dd158a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils/template.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/template.py
@@ -91,6 +91,9 @@ def lookup(name, *args, **kwargs):
         # safely catch run failures per #5059
         try:
             ran = instance.run(*args, inject=vars, **kwargs)
+        except errors.AnsibleError:
+            # Plugin raised this on purpose
+            raise
         except Exception, e:
             ran = None
         if ran: