diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/ios.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/ios.py
index deb74d0488..b1c146583e 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/ios.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/ios.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 # USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import env_fallback
-from ansible.module_utils.network_common import to_list
+from ansible.module_utils.network_common import to_list, ComplexList
 from ansible.module_utils.connection import exec_command
 
 _DEVICE_CONFIGS = {}
@@ -65,9 +65,19 @@ def get_config(module, flags=[]):
         _DEVICE_CONFIGS[cmd] = cfg
         return cfg
 
+def to_commands(commands):
+    transform = ComplexList(dict(
+        command=dict(key=True),
+        prompt=dict(),
+        response=dict()
+    ))
+    return transform(commands)
+
+
 def run_commands(module, commands, check_rc=True):
     responses = list()
-    for cmd in to_list(commands):
+    commands = to_commands(to_list(commands))
+    for cmd in commands:
         cmd = module.jsonify(cmd)
         rc, out, err = exec_command(module, cmd)
         if check_rc and rc != 0:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_facts.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_facts.py
index 3c5bdf9d1e..28bea3e2e4 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_facts.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_facts.py
@@ -208,8 +208,8 @@ class Default(FactsBase):
 class Hardware(FactsBase):
 
     COMMANDS = [
-        'dir | include Directory',
-        'show memory statistics | include Processor'
+        'dir',
+        'show memory statistics'
     ]
 
     def populate(self):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/ios.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/ios.py
index 51ebd313e0..f5d19f5486 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/ios.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/ios.py
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ class ActionModule(_ActionModule):
 
         pc = copy.deepcopy(self._play_context)
         pc.connection = 'network_cli'
-        pc.port = provider['port'] or self._play_context.port
+        pc.network_os = 'ios'
+        pc.port = provider['port'] or self._play_context.port or 22
         pc.remote_user = provider['username'] or self._play_context.connection_user
         pc.password = provider['password'] or self._play_context.password
         pc.become = provider['authorize'] or False