diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
index 2dc83c3c89..39a6593495 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
@@ -718,6 +718,7 @@ class Runner(object):
         actual_pass = inject.get('ansible_ssh_pass', self.remote_pass)
         actual_transport = inject.get('ansible_connection', self.transport)
         actual_private_key_file = inject.get('ansible_ssh_private_key_file', self.private_key_file)
+        actual_private_key_file = template.template(self.basedir, actual_private_key_file, inject, fail_on_undefined=True)
         self.sudo_pass = inject.get('ansible_sudo_pass', self.sudo_pass)
         self.su = inject.get('ansible_su', self.su)
         self.su_pass = inject.get('ansible_su_pass', self.su_pass)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py
index 2af14206b8..e7dd54127b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py
@@ -135,6 +135,8 @@ class ActionModule(object):
             else:
                 private_key = inject.get('ansible_ssh_private_key_file', self.runner.private_key_file)
 
+            private_key = template.template(self.runner.basedir, private_key, inject, fail_on_undefined=True)
+
             if not private_key is None:
                 private_key = os.path.expanduser(private_key)
                 options['private_key'] = private_key