diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
index 0ff1345998f..389fa5542d3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
@@ -724,7 +724,7 @@ class TaskExecutor:
         # if using persistent paramiko connections (or the action has set the FORCE_PERSISTENT_CONNECTION attribute to True),
         # then we use the persistent connection plugion. Otherwise load the requested connection plugin
         if C.USE_PERSISTENT_CONNECTIONS or getattr(self, 'FORCE_PERSISTENT_CONNECTION', False):
-            conn_type == 'persistent'
+            conn_type = 'persistent'
         else:
             conn_type = self._play_context.connection