diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/synchronize.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/synchronize.py
index 62b8292be87..87e7fdf72e6 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/synchronize.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/synchronize.py
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
     def _get_absolute_path(self, path):
         original_path = path
 
+        if path.startswith('rsync://'):
+            return path
+
         if self._task._role is not None:
             path = self._loader.path_dwim_relative(self._task._role._role_path, 'files', path)
         else: