diff --git a/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py b/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py
index 294e8914..650355ff 100644
--- a/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py
+++ b/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py
@@ -500,12 +500,7 @@ class PlayContextSpec(Spec):
             rediscover_python=rediscover_python)
 
     def host_key_checking(self):
-        def candidates():
-            yield self._connection.get_task_var('ansible_ssh_host_key_checking')
-            yield self._connection.get_task_var('ansible_host_key_checking')
-            yield C.HOST_KEY_CHECKING
-        val = next((v for v in candidates() if v is not None), True)
-        return boolean(val)
+        return self._connection_option('host_key_checking')
 
     def private_key_file(self):
         return self._connection_option('private_key_file')
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 69e5e944..88ad6bb1 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ In progress (unreleased)
   on SSH key ``mitogen__has_sudo_pubkey.key`` during Ansible tests.
 * :gh:issue:`1083` :mod:`ansible_mitogen`: Templated SSH private key file
   (e.g. ``ansible_private_key_file``).
+* :gh:issue:`1083` :mod:`ansible_mitogen`: Templated SSH host key checking
+  (e.g. ``ansible_host_key_checking``, ``ansible_ssh_host_key_checking``).
 
 
 v0.3.16 (2024-11-05)
diff --git a/tests/ansible/hosts/default.hosts b/tests/ansible/hosts/default.hosts
index 221d333d..077865b0 100644
--- a/tests/ansible/hosts/default.hosts
+++ b/tests/ansible/hosts/default.hosts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ ansible_host=localhost
 ansible_user="{{ lookup('pipe', 'whoami') }}"
 
 [tt_targets_inventory]
+tt-host-key-checking        ansible_host_key_checking="{{ 'false' | trim }}" ansible_password=has_sudo_nopw_password ansible_user=mitogen__has_sudo_nopw
 tt-password                 ansible_password="{{ 'has_sudo_nopw_password' | trim }}" ansible_user=mitogen__has_sudo_nopw
 tt-port                     ansible_password=has_sudo_nopw_password ansible_port="{{ 22 | int }}" ansible_user=mitogen__has_sudo_nopw
 tt-private-key-file         ansible_private_key_file="{{ git_basedir }}/tests/data/docker/mitogen__has_sudo_pubkey.key" ansible_user=mitogen__has_sudo_pubkey
diff --git a/tests/ansible/templates/test-targets.j2 b/tests/ansible/templates/test-targets.j2
index 9e726d1f..c829a6f6 100644
--- a/tests/ansible/templates/test-targets.j2
+++ b/tests/ansible/templates/test-targets.j2
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ ansible_python_interpreter={{ tt.python_path }}
 ansible_user=mitogen__has_sudo_nopw
 
 [tt_targets_inventory]
+tt-host-key-checking        ansible_host_key_checking="{{ '{{' }} 'false' | trim {{ '}}' }}" ansible_password=has_sudo_nopw_password ansible_port={{ tt.port }} ansible_user=mitogen__has_sudo_nopw
 tt-password                 ansible_password="{{ '{{' }} 'has_sudo_nopw_password' | trim {{ '}}' }}"  ansible_port={{ tt.port }} ansible_user=mitogen__has_sudo_nopw
 tt-port                     ansible_password=has_sudo_nopw_password  ansible_port="{{ '{{' }} {{ tt.port }} | int {{ '}}' }}"  ansible_user=mitogen__has_sudo_nopw
 tt-private-key-file         ansible_port={{ tt.port }} ansible_private_key_file="{{ '{{' }} git_basedir {{ '}}' }}/tests/data/docker/mitogen__has_sudo_pubkey.key" ansible_user=mitogen__has_sudo_pubkey