diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/unarchive.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/unarchive.py
index 6a43259763..63ab6c549c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/unarchive.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/unarchive.py
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
             if '_original_file' in task_vars:
                 source = self._loader.path_dwim_relative(task_vars['_original_file'], 'files', source)
             else:
-                source = self._loader.path_dwim(source)
+                if self._task._role is not None:
+                    source = self._loader.path_dwim_relative(self._task._role._role_path, 'files', source)
+                else:
+                    source = self._loader.path_dwim(source)
 
         remote_checksum = self._remote_checksum(tmp, dest)
         if remote_checksum != '3':