diff --git a/lib/cdist/exec.py b/lib/cdist/exec.py
index bb375404..a9b8d147 100644
--- a/lib/cdist/exec.py
+++ b/lib/cdist/exec.py
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ def shell_run_or_debug_fail(script, *args, remote_prefix=False, **kargs):
     args[0][:0] = [ "/bin/sh", "-e" ]
 
     if remote_prefix:
-        args[0][:0] = os.environ['__remote_exec']
+        remote_prefix = os.environ['__remote_exec'].split()
+        remote_prefix.append(os.environ['target_host'])
+        args[0][:0] = remote_prefix
 
     log.debug("Shell exec cmd: %s", args)
 
@@ -62,7 +64,9 @@ def shell_run_or_debug_fail(script, *args, remote_prefix=False, **kargs):
 
 def run_or_fail(*args, remote_prefix=False, **kargs):
     if remote_prefix:
-        args[0][:0] = os.environ['__remote_exec']
+        remote_prefix = os.environ['__remote_exec'].split()
+        remote_prefix.append(os.environ['target_host'])
+        args[0][:0] = remote_prefix
 
     log.debug("Exec: " + " ".join(*args))
     try:
diff --git a/lib/cdist/path.py b/lib/cdist/path.py
index a2b47610..85d1a87f 100644
--- a/lib/cdist/path.py
+++ b/lib/cdist/path.py
@@ -125,13 +125,13 @@ class Path:
     def transfer_dir(self, source, destination):
         """Transfer directory and previously delete the remote destination"""
         self.remove_remote_dir(destination)
-        cdist.exec.run_or_fail([os.environ['__remote_copy'], "-r", source,
-                                self.target_host + ":" + destination])
+        cdist.exec.run_or_fail(os.environ['__remote_copy'].split() +
+            ["-r", source, self.target_host + ":" + destination])
 
     def transfer_file(self, source, destination):
         """Transfer file"""
-        cdist.exec.run_or_fail([os.environ['__remote_copy'], source,
-                                self.target_host + ":" + destination])
+        cdist.exec.run_or_fail(os.environ['__remote_copy'].split() +
+            [source, self.target_host + ":" + destination])
 
     def global_explorer_output_path(self, explorer):
         """Returns path of the output for a global explorer"""