diff --git a/testinfra/backend/ssh.py b/testinfra/backend/ssh.py
index a43d4a7f..aae144d5 100644
--- a/testinfra/backend/ssh.py
+++ b/testinfra/backend/ssh.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def __init__(
         ssh_config: Optional[str] = None,
         ssh_identity_file: Optional[str] = None,
         timeout: int = 10,
-        controlpath: str = "",
+        controlpath: Optional[str] = None,
         controlpersist: int = 60,
         ssh_extra_args: Optional[str] = None,
         *args: Any,
diff --git a/testinfra/utils/ansible_runner.py b/testinfra/utils/ansible_runner.py
index 084c03b6..dc315141 100644
--- a/testinfra/utils/ansible_runner.py
+++ b/testinfra/utils/ansible_runner.py
@@ -187,13 +187,18 @@ def get_config(
 
     control_path = config.get("ssh_connection", "control_path", fallback="", raw=True)
     if control_path:
-        directory = config.get(
+        control_path_dir = config.get(
             "persistent_connection", "control_path_dir", fallback="~/.ansible/cp"
         )
-        control_path = control_path % ({"directory": directory})  # noqa: S001
-        # restore original "%%"
-        control_path = control_path.replace("%", "%%")
-        kwargs["controlpath"] = control_path
+        control_path_dir = os.path.expanduser(control_path_dir)
+        control_path_dir = os.path.normpath(control_path_dir)
+
+        if os.path.isdir(control_path_dir):
+            control_path = control_path % (  # noqa: S001
+                {"directory": control_path_dir}
+            )
+            control_path = control_path.replace("%", "%%")  # restore original "%%"
+            kwargs["controlpath"] = control_path
 
     spec = "{}://".format(connection)