diff --git a/awx/main/models/credential/__init__.py b/awx/main/models/credential/__init__.py
index 72a49b7d1c..d4c013ea63 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/credential/__init__.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/credential/__init__.py
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ class CredentialType(CommonModelNameNotUnique):
             # awx-manage inventory_update does not support extra_vars via -e
             def build_extra_vars(node):
                 if isinstance(node, dict):
-                    return {k: build_extra_vars(v) for k, v in node.items()}
+                    return {build_extra_vars(k): build_extra_vars(v) for k, v in node.items()}
                 elif isinstance(node, list):
                     return [build_extra_vars(x) for x in node]
                 else: