diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py b/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py
index 0373f4b3e3b..ec5d6edd340 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/connection_plugins/ssh.py
@@ -220,9 +220,15 @@ class Connection(object):
             if not os.path.exists(hf):
                 hfiles_not_found += 1
                 continue
-            host_fh = open(hf)
-            data = host_fh.read()
-            host_fh.close()
+            try:
+                host_fh = open(hf)
+            except IOError, e:
+                hfiles_not_found += 1
+                continue
+            else:
+                data = host_fh.read()
+                host_fh.close()
+                
             for line in data.split("\n"):
                 if line is None or " " not in line:
                     continue