diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py b/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py
index e8e431f401..c2fd9666eb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class Connection(object):
         else:
             self.common_args += ["-o", "ControlMaster=auto",
                                  "-o", "ControlPersist=60s",
-                                 "-o", "ControlPath=%s" % (C.ANSIBLE_SSH_CONTROL_PATH % dict(directory=self.cp_dir))]
+                                 "-o", "ControlPath=\"%s\"" % (C.ANSIBLE_SSH_CONTROL_PATH % dict(directory=self.cp_dir))]
 
         cp_in_use = False
         cp_path_set = False
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class Connection(object):
                 cp_path_set = True
 
         if cp_in_use and not cp_path_set:
-            self.common_args += ["-o", "ControlPath=%s" % (C.ANSIBLE_SSH_CONTROL_PATH % dict(directory=self.cp_dir))]
+            self.common_args += ["-o", "ControlPath=\"%s\"" % (C.ANSIBLE_SSH_CONTROL_PATH % dict(directory=self.cp_dir))]
 
         if not C.HOST_KEY_CHECKING:
             self.common_args += ["-o", "StrictHostKeyChecking=no"]