diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/source_control/git.py b/lib/ansible/modules/source_control/git.py
index b98ab249e39..828017ecd64 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/source_control/git.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/source_control/git.py
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ def verify_commit_sign(git_path, module, dest, version):
 def main():
     module = AnsibleModule(
         argument_spec = dict(
-            dest=dict(),
+            dest=dict(type='path'),
             repo=dict(required=True, aliases=['name']),
             version=dict(default='HEAD'),
             remote=dict(default='origin'),
@@ -672,9 +672,9 @@ def main():
             update=dict(default='yes', type='bool'),
             verify_commit=dict(default='no', type='bool'),
             accept_hostkey=dict(default='no', type='bool'),
-            key_file=dict(default=None, required=False),
+            key_file=dict(default=None, type='path', required=False),
             ssh_opts=dict(default=None, required=False),
-            executable=dict(default=None),
+            executable=dict(default=None, type='path'),
             bare=dict(default='no', type='bool'),
             recursive=dict(default='yes', type='bool'),
             track_submodules=dict(default='no', type='bool'),
@@ -706,16 +706,11 @@ def main():
     if not dest and allow_clone:
         module.fail_json(msg="the destination directory must be specified unless clone=no")
     elif dest:
-        dest = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(dest))
         if bare:
             gitconfig = os.path.join(dest, 'config')
         else:
             gitconfig = os.path.join(dest, '.git', 'config')
 
-    # make sure the key_file path is expanded for ~ and $HOME
-    if key_file is not None:
-        key_file = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(key_file))
-
     # create a wrapper script and export
     # GIT_SSH=<path> as an environment variable
     # for git to use the wrapper script