diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/cache/redis.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/cache/redis.py
index 831ff037e4..893e1e211f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/cache/redis.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/cache/redis.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class CacheModule(BaseCacheModule):
         return (self._db.zrank(self._keys_set, key) is not None)
 
     def delete(self, key):
-        del self.cache[key]
+        del self._cache[key]
         self._db.delete(self._make_key(key))
         self._db.zrem(self._keys_set, key)