diff --git a/ansible/action_plugins/merge_configs.py b/ansible/action_plugins/merge_configs.py
index 821b4877d5..dd4e382dbe 100644
--- a/ansible/action_plugins/merge_configs.py
+++ b/ansible/action_plugins/merge_configs.py
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ class ActionModule(action.ActionBase):
         fakefile.close()
 
         new_module_args = self._task.args.copy()
-        del new_module_args['vars']
-        del new_module_args['sources']
+        new_module_args.pop('vars', None)
+        new_module_args.pop('sources', None)
 
         new_module_args.update(
             dict(