diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
index f453ddb8196..7e7000563bd 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
@@ -942,7 +942,7 @@ class TaskExecutor:
 
         option_vars = C.config.get_plugin_vars('connection', connection._load_name)
         plugin = connection._sub_plugin
-        if plugin['type'] != 'external':
+        if plugin.get('type'):
             option_vars.extend(C.config.get_plugin_vars(plugin['type'], plugin['name']))
 
         options = {}
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/napalm.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/napalm.py
index 22ebd4df2ef..c7b13a7b5a1 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/napalm.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/napalm.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class Connection(NetworkConnectionBase):
 
             self.napalm.open()
 
-            self._sub_plugin = {'type': 'external', 'name': 'napalm', 'obj': self.napalm}
+            self._sub_plugin = {'name': 'napalm', 'obj': self.napalm}
             self.queue_message('vvvv', 'created napalm device for network_os %s' % self._network_os)
             self._connected = True