diff --git a/tests/base.py b/tests/base.py
index db73a8d58b..83354c9514 100755
--- a/tests/base.py
+++ b/tests/base.py
@@ -1752,6 +1752,10 @@ class ZuulTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         zuul.merger.merger.reset_repo_to_head(repo)
         for fn, content in files.items():
             fn = os.path.join(path, fn)
+            try:
+                os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(fn))
+            except OSError:
+                pass
             with open(fn, 'w') as f:
                 f.write(content)
             repo.index.add([fn])
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/common-config/playbooks/python27.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/common-config/playbooks/python27.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..227cc126a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/common-config/playbooks/python27.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# TODO(jeblair): Perform an action inside of a test chroot
+- hosts: all
+  tasks:
+    - file:
+        path: /tmp/playbook.test
+        state: touch
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/common-config/zuul.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/common-config/zuul.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f00eab77e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/common-config/zuul.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+- pipeline:
+    name: check
+    manager: independent
+    source:
+      gerrit
+    trigger:
+      gerrit:
+        - event: patchset-created
+    success:
+      gerrit:
+        verified: 1
+    failure:
+      gerrit:
+        verified: -1
+
+- pipeline:
+    name: gate
+    manager: dependent
+    success-message: Build succeeded (gate).
+    source:
+      gerrit
+    trigger:
+      gerrit:
+        - event: comment-added
+          approval:
+            - approved: 1
+    success:
+      gerrit:
+        verified: 2
+        submit: true
+    failure:
+      gerrit:
+        verified: -2
+    start:
+      gerrit:
+        verified: 0
+    precedence: high
+
+- job:
+    name: python27
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/org_project/.zuul.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/org_project/.zuul.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6bedb07fc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/org_project/.zuul.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+- project:
+    name: org/project
+
+    check:
+      jobs:
+        - python27
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/org_project/README b/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/org_project/README
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9daeafb986
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/git/org_project/README
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+test
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/main.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/main.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d9868fad0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/ansible/main.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+- tenant:
+    name: tenant-one
+    source:
+      gerrit:
+        config-repos:
+          - common-config
+        project-repos:
+          - org/project
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/in-repo/git/org_project/playbooks/project-test1.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/in-repo/git/org_project/playbooks/project-test1.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f679dceaef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/in-repo/git/org_project/playbooks/project-test1.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- hosts: all
+  tasks: []
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/multi-tenant/git/common-config/playbooks/python27.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/multi-tenant/git/common-config/playbooks/python27.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f679dceaef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/multi-tenant/git/common-config/playbooks/python27.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- hosts: all
+  tasks: []
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/multi-tenant/git/tenant-one-config/playbooks/project1-test1.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/multi-tenant/git/tenant-one-config/playbooks/project1-test1.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f679dceaef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/multi-tenant/git/tenant-one-config/playbooks/project1-test1.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- hosts: all
+  tasks: []
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/multi-tenant/git/tenant-two-config/playbooks/project2-test1.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/multi-tenant/git/tenant-two-config/playbooks/project2-test1.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f679dceaef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/multi-tenant/git/tenant-two-config/playbooks/project2-test1.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- hosts: all
+  tasks: []
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/openstack/git/project-config/playbooks/python27.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/openstack/git/project-config/playbooks/python27.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f679dceaef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/openstack/git/project-config/playbooks/python27.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- hosts: all
+  tasks: []
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/openstack/git/project-config/playbooks/python35.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/openstack/git/project-config/playbooks/python35.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f679dceaef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/openstack/git/project-config/playbooks/python35.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- hosts: all
+  tasks: []
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_model.py b/tests/unit/test_model.py
index 0189340652..db98d14c2d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_model.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_model.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class TestJob(BaseTestCase):
         pipeline = model.Pipeline('gate', layout)
         layout.addPipeline(pipeline)
         queue = model.ChangeQueue(pipeline)
-        project = model.Project('project')
+        project = model.Project('project', None)
 
         base = configloader.JobParser.fromYaml(layout, {
             '_source_project': project,
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ class TestJob(BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_job_auth_inheritance(self):
         layout = model.Layout()
-        project = model.Project('project')
+        project = model.Project('project', None)
 
         base = configloader.JobParser.fromYaml(layout, {
             '_source_project': project,
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ class TestJob(BaseTestCase):
         pipeline = model.Pipeline('gate', layout)
         layout.addPipeline(pipeline)
         queue = model.ChangeQueue(pipeline)
-        project = model.Project('project')
+        project = model.Project('project', None)
 
         base = configloader.JobParser.fromYaml(layout, {
             '_source_project': project,
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ class TestJob(BaseTestCase):
         pipeline = model.Pipeline('gate', layout)
         layout.addPipeline(pipeline)
         queue = model.ChangeQueue(pipeline)
-        project = model.Project('project')
+        project = model.Project('project', None)
 
         base = configloader.JobParser.fromYaml(layout, {
             '_source_project': project,
@@ -312,14 +312,14 @@ class TestJob(BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_job_source_project(self):
         layout = model.Layout()
-        base_project = model.Project('base_project')
+        base_project = model.Project('base_project', None)
         base = configloader.JobParser.fromYaml(layout, {
             '_source_project': base_project,
             'name': 'base',
         })
         layout.addJob(base)
 
-        other_project = model.Project('other_project')
+        other_project = model.Project('other_project', None)
         base2 = configloader.JobParser.fromYaml(layout, {
             '_source_project': other_project,
             'name': 'base',
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_v3.py b/tests/unit/test_v3.py
index 885330268c..96f24a1e6a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_v3.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_v3.py
@@ -98,8 +98,16 @@ class TestInRepoConfig(AnsibleZuulTestCase):
                     - project-test2
             """)
 
+        in_repo_playbook = textwrap.dedent(
+            """
+            - hosts: all
+              tasks: []
+            """)
+
+        file_dict = {'.zuul.yaml': in_repo_conf,
+                     'playbooks/project-test2.yaml': in_repo_playbook}
         A = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('org/project', 'master', 'A',
-                                           files={'.zuul.yaml': in_repo_conf})
+                                           files=file_dict)
         A.addApproval('code-review', 2)
         self.fake_gerrit.addEvent(A.addApproval('approved', 1))
         self.waitUntilSettled()
@@ -110,3 +118,16 @@ class TestInRepoConfig(AnsibleZuulTestCase):
                          "A should report start and success")
         self.assertIn('tenant-one-gate', A.messages[1],
                       "A should transit tenant-one gate")
+
+
+class TestAnsible(AnsibleZuulTestCase):
+    # A temporary class to hold new tests while others are disabled
+
+    tenant_config_file = 'config/ansible/main.yaml'
+
+    def test_playbook(self):
+        A = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('org/project', 'master', 'A')
+        self.fake_gerrit.addEvent(A.getPatchsetCreatedEvent(1))
+        self.waitUntilSettled()
+        self.assertEqual(self.getJobFromHistory('python27').result,
+                         'SUCCESS')
diff --git a/zuul/configloader.py b/zuul/configloader.py
index 7b35a86223..c8647779b9 100644
--- a/zuul/configloader.py
+++ b/zuul/configloader.py
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ class JobParser(object):
                'attempts': int,
                '_source_project': model.Project,
                '_source_branch': vs.Any(str, None),
+               '_source_configrepo': bool,
                }
 
         return vs.Schema(job)
@@ -143,12 +144,16 @@ class JobParser(object):
             # accumulate onto any previously applied tags from
             # metajobs.
             job.tags = job.tags.union(set(tags))
-        # The source attributes may not be overridden -- they are
-        # always supplied by the config loader.  They correspond to
-        # the Project instance of the repo where it originated, and
-        # the branch name.
+        # The source attributes and playbook may not be overridden --
+        # they are always supplied by the config loader.  They
+        # correspond to the Project instance of the repo where it
+        # originated, and the branch name.
         job.source_project = conf.get('_source_project')
         job.source_branch = conf.get('_source_branch')
+        job.source_configrepo = conf.get('_source_configrepo')
+        # TODOv3(jeblair): verify the playbook exists
+        # TODOv3(jeblair): remove hardcoded extension
+        job.playbook = os.path.join('playbooks', job.name + '.yaml')
         job.failure_message = conf.get('failure-message', job.failure_message)
         job.success_message = conf.get('success-message', job.success_message)
         job.failure_url = conf.get('failure-url', job.failure_url)
@@ -156,7 +161,7 @@ class JobParser(object):
 
         # If the definition for this job came from a project repo,
         # implicitly apply a branch matcher for the branch it was on.
-        if job.source_branch:
+        if (not job.source_configrepo) and job.source_branch:
             branches = [job.source_branch]
         elif 'branches' in conf:
             branches = as_list(conf['branches'])
@@ -546,6 +551,7 @@ class TenantParser(object):
             job = merger.getFiles(project.name, url, 'master',
                                   files=['zuul.yaml', '.zuul.yaml'])
             job.project = project
+            job.branch = 'master'
             job.config_repo = True
             jobs.append(job)
 
@@ -579,7 +585,7 @@ class TenantParser(object):
                         (job.project, fn))
                     if job.config_repo:
                         incdata = TenantParser._parseConfigRepoLayout(
-                            job.files[fn], job.project)
+                            job.files[fn], job.project, job.branch)
                         config_repos_config.extend(incdata)
                     else:
                         incdata = TenantParser._parseProjectRepoLayout(
@@ -589,11 +595,10 @@ class TenantParser(object):
         return config_repos_config, project_repos_config
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _parseConfigRepoLayout(data, project):
+    def _parseConfigRepoLayout(data, project, branch):
         # This is the top-level configuration for a tenant.
         config = model.UnparsedTenantConfig()
-        config.extend(yaml.load(data), project)
-
+        config.extend(yaml.load(data), project, branch, True)
         return config
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -601,7 +606,7 @@ class TenantParser(object):
         # TODOv3(jeblair): this should implement some rules to protect
         # aspects of the config that should not be changed in-repo
         config = model.UnparsedTenantConfig()
-        config.extend(yaml.load(data), project, branch)
+        config.extend(yaml.load(data), project, branch, False)
 
         return config
 
diff --git a/zuul/driver/gerrit/gerritconnection.py b/zuul/driver/gerrit/gerritconnection.py
index ac644eb508..627c716fd5 100644
--- a/zuul/driver/gerrit/gerritconnection.py
+++ b/zuul/driver/gerrit/gerritconnection.py
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ class GerritConnection(BaseConnection):
 
     def getProject(self, name):
         if name not in self.projects:
-            self.projects[name] = Project(name)
+            self.projects[name] = Project(name, self.connection_name)
         return self.projects[name]
 
     def maintainCache(self, relevant):
diff --git a/zuul/launcher/client.py b/zuul/launcher/client.py
index 9e895ef191..716e59bf74 100644
--- a/zuul/launcher/client.py
+++ b/zuul/launcher/client.py
@@ -368,6 +368,16 @@ class LaunchClient(object):
         params['job'] = job.name
         params['items'] = merger_items
         params['projects'] = []
+
+        config_repos = set([x[1] for x in
+                            item.pipeline.layout.tenant.config_repos])
+        if job.name != 'noop':
+            params['playbook'] = dict(
+                connection=job.source_project.connection_name,
+                config_repo=job.source_project in config_repos,
+                project=job.source_project.name,
+                branch=job.source_branch,
+                path=job.playbook)
         nodes = []
         for node in item.current_build_set.getJobNodeSet(job.name).getNodes():
             nodes.append(dict(name=node.name, image=node.image))
diff --git a/zuul/launcher/server.py b/zuul/launcher/server.py
index bfcc8a4362..58bfb07d78 100644
--- a/zuul/launcher/server.py
+++ b/zuul/launcher/server.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import time
 import traceback
 
 import gear
-import yaml
 
 import zuul.merger
 import zuul.ansible.library
@@ -76,7 +75,9 @@ class JobDir(object):
         os.makedirs(self.ansible_root)
         self.known_hosts = os.path.join(self.ansible_root, 'known_hosts')
         self.inventory = os.path.join(self.ansible_root, 'inventory')
-        self.playbook = os.path.join(self.ansible_root, 'playbook')
+        self.playbook = None
+        self.playbook_root = os.path.join(self.ansible_root, 'playbook')
+        os.makedirs(self.playbook_root)
         self.post_playbook = os.path.join(self.ansible_root, 'post_playbook')
         self.config = os.path.join(self.ansible_root, 'ansible.cfg')
         self.ansible_log = os.path.join(self.ansible_root, 'ansible_log.txt')
@@ -358,6 +359,9 @@ class LaunchServer(object):
             else:
                 commit = args['items'][-1]['newrev']  # noqa
 
+            # is the playbook in a repo that we have already prepared?
+            jobdir.playbook = self.preparePlaybookRepo(jobdir, args)
+
             # TODOv3: Ansible the ansible thing here.
             self.prepareAnsibleFiles(jobdir, args)
 
@@ -402,6 +406,36 @@ class LaunchServer(object):
             hosts.append((node['name'], dict(ansible_connection='local')))
         return hosts
 
+    def preparePlaybookRepo(self, jobdir, args):
+        # Check out the playbook repo if needed and return the path to
+        # the playbook that should be run.
+        playbook = args['playbook']
+        source = self.connections.getSource(playbook['connection'])
+        project = source.getProject(playbook['project'])
+        # TODO(jeblair): construct the url in the merger itself
+        url = source.getGitUrl(project)
+        if not playbook['config_repo']:
+            # This is a project repo, so it is safe to use the already
+            # checked out version (from speculative merging) of the
+            # playbook
+            for i in args['items']:
+                if (i['connection_name'] == playbook['connection'] and
+                    i['project'] == playbook['project']):
+                    # We already have this repo prepared
+                    return os.path.join(jobdir.git_root,
+                                        project.name,
+                                        playbook['path'])
+        # The playbook repo is either a config repo, or it isn't in
+        # the stack of changes we are testing, so check out the branch
+        # tip into a dedicated space.
+
+        merger = self._getMerger(jobdir.playbook_root)
+        merger.checkoutBranch(project.name, url, playbook['branch'])
+
+        return os.path.join(jobdir.playbook_root,
+                            project.name,
+                            playbook['path'])
+
     def prepareAnsibleFiles(self, jobdir, args):
         with open(jobdir.inventory, 'w') as inventory:
             for host_name, host_vars in self.getHostList(args):
@@ -410,11 +444,6 @@ class LaunchServer(object):
                 for k, v in host_vars.items():
                     inventory.write('%s=%s' % (k, v))
                 inventory.write('\n')
-        with open(jobdir.playbook, 'w') as playbook:
-            play = dict(hosts='localhost',
-                        tasks=[dict(name='test',
-                                    shell='echo Hello world')])
-            playbook.write(yaml.dump([play]))
         with open(jobdir.config, 'w') as config:
             config.write('[defaults]\n')
             config.write('hostfile = %s\n' % jobdir.inventory)
diff --git a/zuul/merger/merger.py b/zuul/merger/merger.py
index 692dd83632..3ab7b5fdca 100644
--- a/zuul/merger/merger.py
+++ b/zuul/merger/merger.py
@@ -260,6 +260,16 @@ class Merger(object):
         except Exception:
             self.log.exception("Unable to update %s", project)
 
+    def checkoutBranch(self, project, url, branch):
+        repo = self.getRepo(project, url)
+        if repo.hasBranch(branch):
+            self.log.info("Checking out branch %s of %s" % (branch, project))
+            head = repo.getBranchHead(branch)
+            repo.checkout(head)
+        else:
+            raise Exception("Project %s does not have branch %s" %
+                            (project, branch))
+
     def _mergeChange(self, item, ref):
         repo = self.getRepo(item['project'], item['url'])
         try:
diff --git a/zuul/model.py b/zuul/model.py
index 2c3c7b33eb..22474f18c3 100644
--- a/zuul/model.py
+++ b/zuul/model.py
@@ -353,8 +353,9 @@ class Project(object):
     # This makes a Project instance a unique identifier for a given
     # project from a given source.
 
-    def __init__(self, name, foreign=False):
+    def __init__(self, name, connection_name, foreign=False):
         self.name = name
+        self.connection_name = connection_name
         # foreign projects are those referenced in dependencies
         # of layout projects, this should matter
         # when deciding whether to enqueue their changes
@@ -530,11 +531,14 @@ class Job(object):
         tags=set(),
         mutex=None,
         attempts=3,
+        source_project=None,
+        source_branch=None,
+        source_configrepo=None,
+        playbook=None,
     )
 
     def __init__(self, name):
         self.name = name
-        self.project_source = None
         for k, v in self.attributes.items():
             setattr(self, k, v)
 
@@ -1779,7 +1783,8 @@ class UnparsedTenantConfig(object):
         r.nodesets = copy.deepcopy(self.nodesets)
         return r
 
-    def extend(self, conf, source_project=None, source_branch=None):
+    def extend(self, conf, source_project=None, source_branch=None,
+               source_configrepo=None):
         if isinstance(conf, UnparsedTenantConfig):
             self.pipelines.extend(conf.pipelines)
             self.jobs.extend(conf.jobs)
@@ -1809,6 +1814,8 @@ class UnparsedTenantConfig(object):
                     value['_source_project'] = source_project
                 if source_branch is not None:
                     value['_source_branch'] = source_branch
+                if source_configrepo is not None:
+                    value['_source_configrepo'] = source_configrepo
                 self.jobs.append(value)
             elif key == 'project-template':
                 self.project_templates.append(value)