diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py
index 0d7fdf074e..ae36516aae 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/synchronize.py
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ class ActionModule(object):
         # from the perspective of the rsync call the delegate is the localhost
         src_host = '127.0.0.1'
         dest_host = inject.get('ansible_ssh_host', inject['inventory_hostname'])
+        # allow ansible_ssh_host to be templated
+        dest_host = template.template(self.runner.basedir, dest_host, inject, fail_on_undefined=True)
 
         dest_port = options.get('dest_port')
         inv_port = inject.get('ansible_ssh_port', inject['inventory_hostname'])