diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/commands/telnet.py b/lib/ansible/modules/commands/telnet.py
index 65842233fa..17530aa88d 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/commands/telnet.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/commands/telnet.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ options:
     description:
       - List of commands to be executed in the telnet session.
     required: True
+    aliases: ['commands']
   host:
     description:
         - The host/target on which to execute the command
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/telnet.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/telnet.py
index de89339b9e..eb3883a3df 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/telnet.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/telnet.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
             login_prompt = self._task.args.get('login_prompt', "login: ")
             password_prompt = self._task.args.get('password_prompt', "Password: ")
             prompts = self._task.args.get('prompts', "$ ")
-            commands = self._task.args.get('command')
+            commands = self._task.args.get('command') or self._task.args.get('commands')
 
             if isinstance(commands, text_type):
                 commands = commands.split(',')