diff --git a/app/models/manageiq/providers/ansible_runner_workflow.rb b/app/models/manageiq/providers/ansible_runner_workflow.rb
index 521610fe4cf..4fbd150b006 100644
--- a/app/models/manageiq/providers/ansible_runner_workflow.rb
+++ b/app/models/manageiq/providers/ansible_runner_workflow.rb
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ def execute
 
       route_signal(:poll_runner)
     end
+  rescue => err
+    route_signal(:abort, "Failed to run ansible #{execution_type}: #{err}", "error")
   end
 
   def poll_runner
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner.rb b/lib/ansible/runner.rb
index 73a5ddad931..284f9c97ab5 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner.rb
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner.rb
@@ -371,7 +371,15 @@ def wait_for(path, timeout: 10.seconds)
           path_created.set if added.include?(path) || modified.include?(path)
         end
 
-        thread = Thread.new { listener.start }
+        thread = Thread.new do
+          listener.start
+        rescue ArgumentError => err
+          # If the main thread raises an exception immediately it is possible
+          # for the ensure block to call `listener.stop` before this thread
+          # begins its execution resulting in an ArgumentError due to the state
+          # being `:stopped`
+          raise unless err.message.include?("cannot start from state :stopped")
+        end
 
         begin
           res = yield