diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/paramiko_ssh.py b/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/paramiko_ssh.py
index c375f3c4cff..d5ef219821d 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/paramiko_ssh.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/paramiko_ssh.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ class Connection(object):
     def __init__(self, runner, host, port=None):
 
         self.ssh = None
+        self.sftp = None
         self.runner = runner
         self.host = host
         self.port = port