diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/eos.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/eos.py
index f96d81871cb..256c773eb36 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/eos.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/eos.py
@@ -37,13 +37,14 @@ except ImportError:
 class ActionModule(_ActionModule):
 
     def run(self, tmp=None, task_vars=None):
-        provider = load_provider(eos_provider_spec, self._task.args)
-        transport = provider['transport'] or 'cli'
 
-        display.vvvv('connection transport is %s' % transport, self._play_context.remote_addr)
+        if self._play_context.connection == 'local':
+            provider = load_provider(eos_provider_spec, self._task.args)
+            transport = provider['transport'] or 'cli'
 
-        if transport == 'cli':
-            if self._play_context.connection == 'local':
+            display.vvvv('connection transport is %s' % transport, self._play_context.remote_addr)
+
+            if transport == 'cli':
                 pc = copy.deepcopy(self._play_context)
                 pc.connection = 'network_cli'
                 pc.network_os = 'eos'
@@ -70,29 +71,29 @@ class ActionModule(_ActionModule):
 
                 task_vars['ansible_socket'] = socket_path
 
-        else:
-            provider['transport'] = 'eapi'
+            else:
+                provider['transport'] = 'eapi'
 
-            if provider.get('host') is None:
-                provider['host'] = self._play_context.remote_addr
+                if provider.get('host') is None:
+                    provider['host'] = self._play_context.remote_addr
 
-            if provider.get('port') is None:
-                default_port = 443 if provider['use_ssl'] else 80
-                provider['port'] = int(self._play_context.port or default_port)
+                if provider.get('port') is None:
+                    default_port = 443 if provider['use_ssl'] else 80
+                    provider['port'] = int(self._play_context.port or default_port)
 
-            if provider.get('timeout') is None:
-                provider['timeout'] = C.PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT
+                if provider.get('timeout') is None:
+                    provider['timeout'] = C.PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT
 
-            if provider.get('username') is None:
-                provider['username'] = self._play_context.connection_user
+                if provider.get('username') is None:
+                    provider['username'] = self._play_context.connection_user
 
-            if provider.get('password') is None:
-                provider['password'] = self._play_context.password
+                if provider.get('password') is None:
+                    provider['password'] = self._play_context.password
 
-            if provider.get('authorize') is None:
-                provider['authorize'] = False
+                if provider.get('authorize') is None:
+                    provider['authorize'] = False
 
-            self._task.args['provider'] = provider
+                self._task.args['provider'] = provider
 
         result = super(ActionModule, self).run(tmp, task_vars)
         return result