diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/template.py b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/template.py
index 7c137839c31..a4c9bdd4abd 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/template.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/template.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import os
-
+import pipes
 from ansible import utils
 from ansible import errors
 from ansible.runner.return_data import ReturnData
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class ActionModule(object):
                 self.runner._low_level_exec_command(conn, "chmod a+r %s" % xfered, tmp)
 
             # run the copy module
-            module_args = "%s src=%s dest=%s" % (module_args, xfered, dest)
+            module_args = "%s src=%s dest=%s" % (module_args, pipes.quote(xfered), pipes.quote(dest))
 
             if self.runner.check:
                 return ReturnData(conn=conn, comm_ok=True, result=dict(changed=True), diff=dict(before_header=dest, after_header=source, before=dest_contents, after=resultant))