diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
index 6118c2b8a6..eebb5349c8 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ class Runner(object):
         actual_user = inject.get('ansible_ssh_user', self.remote_user)
         actual_pass = inject.get('ansible_ssh_pass', self.remote_pass)
         actual_transport = inject.get('ansible_connection', self.transport)
-        actual_private_key_file = os.path.expanduser(inject.get('ansible_ssh_private_key_file', self.private_key_file))
+        actual_private_key_file = inject.get('ansible_ssh_private_key_file', self.private_key_file)
         self.sudo_pass = inject.get('ansible_sudo_pass', self.sudo_pass)
 
         if self.accelerate and actual_transport != 'local':
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ class Runner(object):
                 actual_port = delegate_info.get('ansible_ssh_port', port)
                 actual_user = delegate_info.get('ansible_ssh_user', actual_user)
                 actual_pass = delegate_info.get('ansible_ssh_pass', actual_pass)
-                actual_private_key_file = os.path.expanduser(delegate_info.get('ansible_ssh_private_key_file', self.private_key_file))
+                actual_private_key_file = delegate_info.get('ansible_ssh_private_key_file', self.private_key_file)
                 actual_transport = delegate_info.get('ansible_connection', self.transport)
                 self.sudo_pass = delegate_info.get('ansible_sudo_pass', self.sudo_pass)
                 for i in delegate_info:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py
index 3ff74cb053..0004136dab 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class ActionModule(object):
         if not dest_host is src_host:
             user = inject.get('ansible_ssh_user',
                               self.runner.remote_user)
-            private_key = os.path.expanduser(inject.get('ansible_ssh_private_key_file', self.runner.private_key_file))
+            private_key = inject.get('ansible_ssh_private_key_file', self.runner.private_key_file)
             if not private_key is None:
                 options['private_key'] = private_key
             src = self._process_origin(src_host, src, user)