diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/synchronize.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/synchronize.py
index 1718f72e309..a7b3a7842eb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/synchronize.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/synchronize.py
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ def main():
         argument_spec = dict(
             src = dict(required=True),
             dest = dict(required=True),
-            dest_port = dict(default=22),
+            dest_port = dict(default=22, type='int'),
             delete = dict(default='no', type='bool'),
             private_key = dict(default=None),
             rsync_path = dict(default=None),