diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/winrm.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/winrm.py
index 3e022a478fc..0eefa79dcf5 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/winrm.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/winrm.py
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ class Connection(ConnectionBase):
                 self.protocol.cleanup_command(self.shell_id, command_id)
 
     def _connect(self):
+        super(Connection, self)._connect()
         if not self.protocol:
             self.protocol = self._winrm_connect()
             self._connected = True