diff --git a/executor.go b/executor.go
index b8319b2..f1ebe83 100644
--- a/executor.go
+++ b/executor.go
@@ -414,6 +414,10 @@ func (e *Executor) runLoop(ctx context.Context, host string, client *SSHClient,
 		if result.Failed && !task.IgnoreErrors {
 			break
 		}
+
+		if task.LoopControl != nil && task.LoopControl.Pause > 0 && i < len(items)-1 {
+			time.Sleep(time.Duration(task.LoopControl.Pause) * time.Second)
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Restore loop variables
diff --git a/executor_test.go b/executor_test.go
index 8dfe40e..002af3f 100644
--- a/executor_test.go
+++ b/executor_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package ansible
 import (
 	"context"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -137,6 +138,25 @@ func TestExecutor_RunPlay_Good_SerialBatchesHosts(t *testing.T) {
 	}, gathered)
 }
 
+func TestExecutor_RunTaskOnHost_Good_LoopControlPause(t *testing.T) {
+	e := NewExecutor("/tmp")
+	task := &Task{
+		Name:   "pause loop",
+		Module: "debug",
+		Args:   map[string]any{"msg": "{{ item }}"},
+		Loop:   []any{"one", "two"},
+		LoopControl: &LoopControl{
+			Pause: 1,
+		},
+	}
+	play := &Play{}
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	require.NoError(t, e.runTaskOnHost(context.Background(), "localhost", task, play))
+
+	assert.GreaterOrEqual(t, time.Since(start), 900*time.Millisecond)
+}
+
 // --- matchesTags ---
 
 func TestExecutor_MatchesTags_Good_NoTagsFilter(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/parser.go b/parser.go
index b3ee17c..33b7458 100644
--- a/parser.go
+++ b/parser.go
@@ -415,11 +415,11 @@ func getAllHosts(group *InventoryGroup) []string {
 	}
 
 	var hosts []string
-	for name := range group.Hosts {
+	for _, name := range slices.Sorted(maps.Keys(group.Hosts)) {
 		hosts = append(hosts, name)
 	}
-	for _, child := range group.Children {
-		hosts = append(hosts, getAllHosts(child)...)
+	for _, name := range slices.Sorted(maps.Keys(group.Children)) {
+		hosts = append(hosts, getAllHosts(group.Children[name])...)
 	}
 	return hosts
 }