diff --git a/lib/ansible/connection.py b/lib/ansible/connection.py
index 8fc3d991ecf..11faac402bd 100755
--- a/lib/ansible/connection.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/connection.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class Connection(object):
 
     def connect(self, host):
         conn = None
-        if self._LOCALHOSTRE.search(host):
+        if self.transport == 'local' or self._LOCALHOSTRE.search(host):
             conn = LocalConnection(self.runner, host)
         elif self.transport == 'paramiko':
             conn = ParamikoConnection(self.runner, host)