diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_install_os.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_install_os.py
index 41058091554..b0e653bed0c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_install_os.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_install_os.py
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ notes:
     - This module requires both the ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT and
       ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT timers to be set to 600 seconds or higher.
       The module will exit if the timers are not set properly.
+    - When using connection local, ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT and
+      ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT can only be set using ENV variables or
+      the ansible.cfg file.
     - Do not include full file paths, just the name of the file(s) stored on
       the top level flash directory.
     - This module attempts to install the software immediately,
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/nxos.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/nxos.py
index a42b1dbe0d2..4eda0341ec4 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/nxos.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/nxos.py
@@ -55,10 +55,23 @@ class ActionModule(ActionNetworkModule):
                 self._task.args['username'] = self._play_context.connection_user
 
         if self._task.action == 'nxos_install_os':
+            persistent_command_timeout = 0
+            persistent_connect_timeout = 0
             connection = self._connection
-            if connection.get_option('persistent_command_timeout') < 600 or connection.get_option('persistent_connect_timeout') < 600:
+            if connection.transport == 'local':
+                persistent_command_timeout = C.PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT
+                persistent_connect_timeout = C.PERSISTENT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT
+            else:
+                persistent_command_timeout = connection.get_option('persistent_command_timeout')
+                persistent_connect_timeout = connection.get_option('persistent_connect_timeout')
+
+            display.vvvv('PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT is %s' % str(persistent_command_timeout), self._play_context.remote_addr)
+            display.vvvv('PERSISTENT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT is %s' % str(persistent_connect_timeout), self._play_context.remote_addr)
+            if persistent_command_timeout < 600 or persistent_connect_timeout < 600:
                 msg = 'PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT and PERSISTENT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT'
-                msg += ' must be set to 600 seconds or higher when using nxos_install_os module'
+                msg += ' must be set to 600 seconds or higher when using nxos_install_os module.'
+                msg += ' Current persistent_command_timeout setting:' + str(persistent_command_timeout)
+                msg += ' Current persistent_connect_timeout setting:' + str(persistent_connect_timeout)
                 return {'failed': True, 'msg': msg}
 
         if self._play_context.connection in ('network_cli', 'httpapi'):