diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/copy.py b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/copy.py
index 0ee9b6f3ced..8a489666e44 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/copy.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/copy.py
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@ class ActionModule(object):
         if complex_args:
             options.update(complex_args)
         options.update(utils.parse_kv(module_args))
-        source  = options.get('src', None)
+        source  = os.path.expanduser(options.get('src', None))
         content = options.get('content', None)
-        dest    = options.get('dest', None)
+        dest    = os.path.expanduser(options.get('dest', None))
         raw     = utils.boolean(options.get('raw', 'no'))
         force   = utils.boolean(options.get('force', 'yes'))
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/unarchive.py b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/unarchive.py
index 3e5f98ccae7..55e4519e5c6 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/unarchive.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/unarchive.py
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ class ActionModule(object):
         if complex_args:
             options.update(complex_args)
         options.update(utils.parse_kv(module_args))
-        source  = options.get('src', None)
-        dest    = options.get('dest', None)
+        source  = os.path.expanduser(options.get('src', None))
+        dest    = os.path.expanduser(options.get('dest', None))
         copy    = utils.boolean(options.get('copy', 'yes'))
 
         if source is None or dest is None:
diff --git a/library/files/copy b/library/files/copy
index d961764772a..50ebbb14c04 100644
--- a/library/files/copy
+++ b/library/files/copy
@@ -113,8 +113,8 @@ def main():
         add_file_common_args=True,
     )
 
-    src    = os.path.expanduser(module.params['src'])
-    dest   = os.path.expanduser(module.params['dest'])
+    src    = module.params['src']
+    dest   = module.params['dest']
     backup = module.params['backup']
     force  = module.params['force']
     original_basename = module.params.get('original_basename',None)