diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/sros.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/sros.py
index 6619841d545..015f5ee42a8 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/sros.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/sros.py
@@ -38,36 +38,30 @@ class ActionModule(_ActionModule):
 
     def run(self, tmp=None, task_vars=None):
 
-        if self._play_context.connection != 'local':
-            return dict(
-                failed=True,
-                msg='invalid connection specified, expected connection=local, '
-                    'got %s' % self._play_context.connection
-            )
+        if self._play_context.connection == 'local':
+            provider = load_provider(sros_provider_spec, self._task.args)
 
-        provider = load_provider(sros_provider_spec, self._task.args)
+            pc = copy.deepcopy(self._play_context)
+            pc.connection = 'network_cli'
+            pc.network_os = 'sros'
+            pc.remote_addr = provider['host'] or self._play_context.remote_addr
+            pc.port = int(provider['port'] or self._play_context.port or 22)
+            pc.remote_user = provider['username'] or self._play_context.connection_user
+            pc.password = provider['password'] or self._play_context.password
+            pc.private_key_file = provider['ssh_keyfile'] or self._play_context.private_key_file
+            pc.timeout = int(provider['timeout'] or C.PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT)
 
-        pc = copy.deepcopy(self._play_context)
-        pc.connection = 'network_cli'
-        pc.network_os = 'sros'
-        pc.remote_addr = provider['host'] or self._play_context.remote_addr
-        pc.port = int(provider['port'] or self._play_context.port or 22)
-        pc.remote_user = provider['username'] or self._play_context.connection_user
-        pc.password = provider['password'] or self._play_context.password
-        pc.private_key_file = provider['ssh_keyfile'] or self._play_context.private_key_file
-        pc.timeout = int(provider['timeout'] or C.PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT)
+            display.vvv('using connection plugin %s' % pc.connection, pc.remote_addr)
+            connection = self._shared_loader_obj.connection_loader.get('persistent', pc, sys.stdin)
 
-        display.vvv('using connection plugin %s' % pc.connection, pc.remote_addr)
-        connection = self._shared_loader_obj.connection_loader.get('persistent', pc, sys.stdin)
+            socket_path = connection.run()
+            display.vvvv('socket_path: %s' % socket_path, pc.remote_addr)
+            if not socket_path:
+                return {'failed': True,
+                        'msg': 'unable to open shell. Please see: ' +
+                        'https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/network_debug_troubleshooting.html#unable-to-open-shell'}
 
-        socket_path = connection.run()
-        display.vvvv('socket_path: %s' % socket_path, pc.remote_addr)
-        if not socket_path:
-            return {'failed': True,
-                    'msg': 'unable to open shell. Please see: ' +
-                           'https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/network_debug_troubleshooting.html#unable-to-open-shell'}
-
-        task_vars['ansible_socket'] = socket_path
+            task_vars['ansible_socket'] = socket_path
 
         result = super(ActionModule, self).run(tmp, task_vars)
         return result