diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
index ec71af5fe44..59b40d14835 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ class Runner(object):
     def _remote_md5(self, conn, tmp, path):
         ''' takes a remote md5sum without requiring python, and returns 0 if no file '''
 
-        test = "rc=0; [[ -r \"%s\" ]] || rc=2; [[ -f \"%s\" ]] || rc=1" % (path,path)
+        test = "rc=0; [ -r \"%s\" ] || rc=2; [ -f \"%s\" ] || rc=1" % (path,path)
         md5s = [
             "(/usr/bin/md5sum %s 2>/dev/null)" % path,
             "(/sbin/md5sum -q %s 2>/dev/null)" % path,