diff --git a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
index 53f104be02..0f35fea10b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
+++ b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,18 @@ ALLOW_WORLD_READABLE_TMPFILES:
   type: boolean
   yaml: {key: defaults.allow_world_readable_tmpfiles}
   version_added: "2.1"
+ANSIBLE_CONNECTION_PATH:
+  name: Path of ansible-connection script
+  default: null
+  description:
+    - Specify where to look for the ansible-connection script. This location will be checked before searching $PATH.
+    - If null, ansible will start with the same directory as the ansible script.
+  type: path
+  env: [{name: ANSIBLE_CONNECTION_PATH}]
+  ini:
+  - {key: ansible_connection_path, section: persistent_connection}
+  yaml: {key: persistent_connection.ansible_connection_path}
+  version_added: "2.8"
 ANSIBLE_COW_SELECTION:
   name: Cowsay filter selection
   default: default
diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
index 73c5ab076d..d1f67af8a2 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
@@ -936,22 +936,20 @@ class TaskExecutor:
         '''
         Starts the persistent connection
         '''
-        master, slave = pty.openpty()
+        candidate_paths = [C.ANSIBLE_CONNECTION_PATH or os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0])]
+        candidate_paths.extend(os.environ['PATH'].split(os.pathsep))
+        for dirname in candidate_paths:
+            ansible_connection = os.path.join(dirname, 'ansible-connection')
+            if os.path.isfile(ansible_connection):
+                break
+        else:
+            raise AnsibleError("Unable to find location of 'ansible-connection'. "
+                               "Please set or check the value of ANSIBLE_CONNECTION_PATH")
 
         python = sys.executable
-
-        def find_file_in_path(filename):
-            # Check $PATH first, followed by same directory as sys.argv[0]
-            paths = os.environ['PATH'].split(os.pathsep) + [os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0])]
-            for dirname in paths:
-                fullpath = os.path.join(dirname, filename)
-                if os.path.isfile(fullpath):
-                    return fullpath
-
-            raise AnsibleError("Unable to find location of '%s'" % filename)
-
+        master, slave = pty.openpty()
         p = subprocess.Popen(
-            [python, find_file_in_path('ansible-connection'), to_text(os.getppid())],
+            [python, ansible_connection, to_text(os.getppid())],
             stdin=slave, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE
         )
         os.close(slave)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/persistent.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/persistent.py
index 800a42843c..f77a23bf1c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/persistent.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/persistent.py
@@ -91,22 +91,20 @@ class Connection(ConnectionBase):
         '''
         Starts the persistent connection
         '''
-        master, slave = pty.openpty()
+        candidate_paths = [C.ANSIBLE_CONNECTION_PATH or os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0])]
+        candidate_paths.extend(os.environ['PATH'].split(os.pathsep))
+        for dirname in candidate_paths:
+            ansible_connection = os.path.join(dirname, 'ansible-connection')
+            if os.path.isfile(ansible_connection):
+                break
+        else:
+            raise AnsibleError("Unable to find location of 'ansible-connection'. "
+                               "Please set or check the value of ANSIBLE_CONNECTION_PATH")
 
         python = sys.executable
-
-        def find_file_in_path(filename):
-            # Check $PATH first, followed by same directory as sys.argv[0]
-            paths = os.environ['PATH'].split(os.pathsep) + [os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0])]
-            for dirname in paths:
-                fullpath = os.path.join(dirname, filename)
-                if os.path.isfile(fullpath):
-                    return fullpath
-
-            raise AnsibleError("Unable to find location of '%s'" % filename)
-
+        master, slave = pty.openpty()
         p = subprocess.Popen(
-            [python, find_file_in_path('ansible-connection'), to_text(os.getppid())],
+            [python, ansible_connection, to_text(os.getppid())],
             stdin=slave, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE
         )
         os.close(slave)