diff --git a/.zuul.yaml b/.zuul.yaml
index ec8413dbf1..716e4452ff 100644
--- a/.zuul.yaml
+++ b/.zuul.yaml
@@ -379,9 +379,6 @@
           label: ubuntu-xenial
         - name: bionic
           label: ubuntu-bionic
-    host-vars:
-      trusty:
-        ansible_python_interpreter: python2
     files:
       - playbooks/.*
       - roles/.*
diff --git a/playbooks/host_vars/trusty.yaml b/playbooks/host_vars/trusty.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3d2c988502
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playbooks/host_vars/trusty.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# This is a fake host used in gate testing of the base playbook on
+# each supported platform.
+ansible_python_interpreter: python2
diff --git a/playbooks/zuul/run-base.yaml b/playbooks/zuul/run-base.yaml
index e412df1c1a..5964e93f8d 100644
--- a/playbooks/zuul/run-base.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/zuul/run-base.yaml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
         write_inventory_dest: /etc/ansible/hosts/inventory.yaml
         write_inventory_exclude_hostvars:
           - ansible_user
+          - ansible_python_interpreter
     - name: Set up /opt/system-config repo
       git:
         repo: /home/zuul/src/opendev.org/opendev/system-config