diff --git a/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py b/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py
index 7e81ed78..138d0951 100644
--- a/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py
+++ b/ansible_mitogen/transport_config.py
@@ -471,19 +471,19 @@ class PlayContextSpec(Spec):
                     "ssh_args",
                     plugin_type="connection",
                     plugin_name="ssh",
-                    variables=self._task_vars["vars"],
+                    variables=self._task_vars["vars"]["vars"],
                 ),
                 C.config.get_config_value(
                     "ssh_common_args",
                     plugin_type="connection",
                     plugin_name="ssh",
-                    variables=self._task_vars["vars"],
+                    variables=self._task_vars["vars"]["vars"],
                 ),
                 C.config.get_config_value(
                     "ssh_extra_args",
                     plugin_type="connection",
                     plugin_name="ssh",
-                    variables=self._task_vars["vars"],
+                    variables=self._task_vars["vars"]["vars"],
                 ),
             )
             for term in ansible.utils.shlex.shlex_split(s or '')