diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/commands/telnet.py b/lib/ansible/modules/commands/telnet.py
index 3b9f697a9cb..6428671ed82 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/commands/telnet.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/commands/telnet.py
@@ -43,10 +43,11 @@ options:
     description:
         - timeout for remote operations
     default: 120
-  command:
+  prompts:
     description:
-        - Command to execute in telnet session
-    required: True
+      - List of prompts expected before sending next command
+    required: False
+    default: ['$']
   pause:
     description:
         - Seconds to pause between each command issued
@@ -59,11 +60,27 @@ author:
 '''
 
 EXAMPLES = '''
-- name: Force ssh on IOS
+- name: send configuration commands to IOS
   telnet:
-    command: transport input ssh
     user: cisco
     password: cisco
+    login_prompt: "Username: "
+    prompts:
+      - "[>|#]"
+    commands:
+      - terminal length 0
+      - configure terminal
+      - hostname ios01
+
+- name: run show commands
+  telnet:
+    user: cisco
+    password: cisco
+    login_prompt: "Username: "
+    prompts:
+      - "[>|#]"
+    commands:
+      - terminal length 0
 '''
 
 RETURN = '''
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/telnet.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/telnet.py
index 765ea897bc6..de89339b9ee 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/telnet.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/telnet.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
 
             login_prompt = self._task.args.get('login_prompt', "login: ")
             password_prompt = self._task.args.get('password_prompt', "Password: ")
+            prompts = self._task.args.get('prompts', "$ ")
             commands = self._task.args.get('command')
 
             if isinstance(commands, text_type):
@@ -54,15 +55,18 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
                 output = []
                 try:
                     tn.read_until(login_prompt)
-                    tn.write('%s\n' % user)
+                    tn.write('%s\n' % to_native(user))
 
                     if password:
                         tn.read_until(password_prompt)
-                        tn.write('%s\n' % password)
+                        tn.write('%s\n' % to_native(password))
+
+                    tn.expect(prompts)
 
                     for cmd in commands:
-                        tn.write(cmd)
-                        output.append(tn.read_until(''))
+                        tn.write('%s\n' % to_native(cmd))
+                        index, match, out = tn.expect(prompts)
+                        output.append(out)
                         sleep(pause)
 
                     tn.write("exit\n")
@@ -76,6 +80,6 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
                     result['output'] = output
             else:
                 result['failed'] = True
-                result['msg'] = 'Telnet requries a command to execute'
+                result['msg'] = 'Telnet requires a command to execute'
 
         return result