diff --git a/tests/lib/hardware/hardware_base.py b/tests/lib/hardware/hardware_base.py
index 5532b9ad..5256fddb 100644
--- a/tests/lib/hardware/hardware_base.py
+++ b/tests/lib/hardware/hardware_base.py
@@ -151,15 +151,22 @@ def ansible_run_playbook(self, playbook: str,
         else:
             limit = ""
 
+        extra_vars_files=""
         # Supplied extra_vars from settings always take precedence
         if settings.ANSIBLE_EXTRA_VARS:
-            extra_vars.update(json.loads(settings.ANSIBLE_EXTRA_VARS))
+            if settings.ANSIBLE_EXTRA_VARS.startswith('@'):
+                extra_vars_files=settings.ANSIBLE_EXTRA_VARS
+            else:
+                extra_vars.update(json.loads(settings.ANSIBLE_EXTRA_VARS))
         if extra_vars:
             extra_vars_param = f"--extra-vars '{json.dumps(extra_vars)}'"
         else:
             extra_vars_param = ""
+        if extra_vars_files:
+            extra_vars_param += f" --extra-vars '{extra_vars_files}'"
 
         logger.info(f'Running playbook {path} ({limit})')
+        logger.info(f'Using extra vars: {extra_vars_param}')
         self.workspace.execute(
             f"ansible-playbook -i {self._ansible_inventory_dir} "
             f"{limit} {extra_vars_param} {path}",