diff --git a/builder/amazon/common/ssh.go b/builder/amazon/common/ssh.go
index d689d5990..fdf983368 100644
--- a/builder/amazon/common/ssh.go
+++ b/builder/amazon/common/ssh.go
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ func SSHHost(e *ec2.EC2, private bool) func(multistep.StateBag) (string, error)
 				} else {
 					host = *i.PrivateIpAddress
 				}
+			} else if private {
+				host = *i.PrivateIpAddress
 			} else if i.PublicDnsName != nil && *i.PublicDnsName != "" {
 				host = *i.PublicDnsName
 			}