diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py b/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py
index ea9b03bad9..1a9f623288 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ class Connection(object):
             self.common_args += ["-o", "KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no",
                                  "-o", "PasswordAuthentication=no"]
         self.common_args += ["-o", "User="+self.runner.remote_user]
+        self.common_args += ["-o", "ConnectTimeout="+str(self.runner.timeout)]
 
         return self