gistfile1.txt

diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py b/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
index 0fdcb2fedc..6e34a334a8 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
@@ -166,9 +166,8 @@ class PlayIterator:
             'gather_subset': gather_subset,
         }

-        # Unless play is specifically tagged, gathering should 'always' run
-        if not self._play.tags:
-            setup_task.tags = ['always']
+        # gathering should 'always' run, unless you specifically skip a play tag
+        setup_task.tags.append('always')

         if gather_timeout:
             setup_task.args['gather_timeout'] = gather_timeout