diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
index b91e480742..0b2c5b4a7f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
@@ -518,10 +518,7 @@ class TaskExecutor:
         if '_variable_params' in self._task.args:
             variable_params = self._task.args.pop('_variable_params')
             if isinstance(variable_params, dict):
-                display.deprecated("Using variables for task params is unsafe, especially if the variables come from an external source like facts",
-                                   version="2.6")
-                variable_params.update(self._task.args)
-                self._task.args = variable_params
+                raise AnsibleError("Using a variable for a task's 'args' is not allowed as it is unsafe, facts can come from untrusted sources.")
 
         # get the connection and the handler for this execution
         if (not self._connection or