diff --git a/fix/fixer_amazon_private_ip.go b/fix/fixer_amazon_private_ip.go
index 7bfce1291..7b0189ca5 100644
--- a/fix/fixer_amazon_private_ip.go
+++ b/fix/fixer_amazon_private_ip.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package fix
 
 import (
 	"log"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/mitchellh/mapstructure"
@@ -49,8 +50,12 @@ func (FixerAmazonPrivateIP) Fix(input map[string]interface{}) (map[string]interf
 		}
 		privateIP, ok := privateIPi.(bool)
 		if !ok {
-			log.Fatalf("Wrong type for ssh_private_ip")
-			continue
+			var err error
+			privateIP, err = strconv.ParseBool(privateIPi.(string))
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Fatalf("Wrong type for ssh_private_ip")
+				continue
+			}
 		}
 
 		delete(builder, "ssh_private_ip")
diff --git a/fix/fixer_amazon_private_ip_test.go b/fix/fixer_amazon_private_ip_test.go
index 554584ded..71961f2f8 100644
--- a/fix/fixer_amazon_private_ip_test.go
+++ b/fix/fixer_amazon_private_ip_test.go
@@ -39,6 +39,19 @@ func TestFixerAmazonPrivateIP(t *testing.T) {
 				"ssh_interface": "private_ip",
 			},
 		},
+
+		// ssh_private_ip specified as string
+		{
+			Input: map[string]interface{}{
+				"type":           "amazon-ebs",
+				"ssh_private_ip": "true",
+			},
+
+			Expected: map[string]interface{}{
+				"type":          "amazon-ebs",
+				"ssh_interface": "private_ip",
+			},
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range cases {