diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
index 439bd86cbb0..6d98588a76f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
@@ -186,13 +186,7 @@ class Runner(object):
         self.accelerate_port  = accelerate_port
         self.callbacks.runner = self
 
-        if self.accelerate and self.transport != 'local':
-            # if we're using accelerated mode, force the
-            # transport to accelerate
-            self.transport = "accelerate"
-            if not self.accelerate_port:
-                self.accelerate_port = C.ACCELERATE_PORT
-        elif self.transport == 'smart':
+        if self.transport == 'smart':
             # if the transport is 'smart' see if SSH can support ControlPersist if not use paramiko
             # 'smart' is the default since 1.2.1/1.3
             cmd = subprocess.Popen(['ssh','-o','ControlPersist'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
@@ -579,6 +573,14 @@ class Runner(object):
         actual_pass = inject.get('ansible_ssh_pass', self.remote_pass)
         actual_transport = inject.get('ansible_connection', self.transport)
         actual_private_key_file = inject.get('ansible_ssh_private_key_file', self.private_key_file)
+
+        if self.accelerate and actual_transport != 'local':
+            # if we're using accelerated mode, force the
+            # transport to accelerate
+            actual_transport = "accelerate"
+            if not self.accelerate_port:
+                self.accelerate_port = C.ACCELERATE_PORT
+
         if actual_transport in [ 'paramiko', 'ssh', 'accelerate' ]:
             actual_port = inject.get('ansible_ssh_port', port)
 
@@ -620,7 +622,7 @@ class Runner(object):
         inject['ansible_ssh_user'] = actual_user
 
         try:
-            if self.transport == 'accelerate':
+            if actual_transport == 'accelerate':
                 # for accelerate, we stuff both ports into a single
                 # variable so that we don't have to mangle other function
                 # calls just to accomodate this one case