executor.go

@@ -420,10 +420,20 @@ func (e *Executor) runTaskOnHost(ctx context.Context, host string, task *Task, p
 		}
 	}
 
+	// delegate_to changes the execution target but keeps the task context
+	// anchored to the original host for templating and registration.
+	executionHost := host
+	if task.Delegate != "" {
+		executionHost = e.templateString(task.Delegate, host, task)
+		if executionHost == "" {
+			executionHost = host
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Get SSH client
-	client, err := e.getClient(host, play)
+	client, err := e.getClient(executionHost, play)
 	if err != nil {
-		return coreerr.E("Executor.runTaskOnHost", sprintf("get client for %s", host), err)
+		return coreerr.E("Executor.runTaskOnHost", sprintf("get client for %s", executionHost), err)
 	}
 
 	// Handle loops

executor_test.go

@@ -283,6 +283,32 @@ func TestExecutor_RunPlay_Good_RunOnceTaskOnlyRunsOnFirstHost(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(t, ok)
 }
 
+func TestExecutor_RunTaskOnHost_Good_DelegateToUsesDelegateHostClient(t *testing.T) {
+	e := NewExecutor("/tmp")
+	e.SetInventoryDirect(&Inventory{
+		All: &InventoryGroup{
+			Hosts: map[string]*Host{
+				"source": {},
+			},
+		},
+	})
+
+	task := &Task{
+		Name:     "delegated debug",
+		Module:   "debug",
+		Args:     map[string]any{"msg": "ok"},
+		Delegate: "delegate-host",
+	}
+	play := &Play{}
+
+	require.NoError(t, e.runTaskOnHost(context.Background(), "source", task, play))
+
+	_, ok := e.clients["delegate-host"]
+	assert.True(t, ok)
+	_, ok = e.clients["source"]
+	assert.False(t, ok)
+}
+
 func TestExecutor_RunPlay_Good_PlayTagsApplyToUntaggedTasks(t *testing.T) {
 	e := NewExecutor("/tmp")
 	e.SetInventoryDirect(&Inventory{