diff --git a/builder/amazon/common/ssh.go b/builder/amazon/common/ssh.go
index 3d1c44372..da7f74ffb 100644
--- a/builder/amazon/common/ssh.go
+++ b/builder/amazon/common/ssh.go
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ func SSHHost(e ec2Describer, private bool) func(multistep.StateBag) (string, err
 				} else if i.PrivateIpAddress != nil && *i.PrivateIpAddress != "" {
 					host = *i.PrivateIpAddress
 				}
+			} else if private {
+				host = *i.PrivateIpAddress
 			} else if i.PublicDnsName != nil && *i.PublicDnsName != "" {
 				host = *i.PublicDnsName
 			}