diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/aws_s3-etags.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/aws_s3-etags.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..980ea1d37c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/aws_s3-etags.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+- aws_s3 - Improve usability when the execution host lacks MD5 support (e.g. due to FIPS-140-2).
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/aws/s3.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/aws/s3.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f77c9fd3ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/aws/s3.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2018 Red Hat, Inc.
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+try:
+    from botocore.exceptions import BotoCoreError, ClientError
+except ImportError:
+    pass    # Handled by the calling module
+
+HAS_MD5 = True
+try:
+    from hashlib import md5
+except ImportError:
+    try:
+        from md5 import md5
+    except ImportError:
+        HAS_MD5 = False
+
+
+def calculate_etag(module, filename, etag, s3, bucket, obj, version=None):
+    if not HAS_MD5:
+        return None
+
+    if '-' in etag:
+        # Multi-part ETag; a hash of the hashes of each part.
+        parts = int(etag[1:-1].split('-')[1])
+        digests = []
+
+        s3_kwargs = dict(
+            Bucket=bucket,
+            Key=obj,
+        )
+        if version:
+            s3_kwargs['VersionId'] = version
+
+        with open(filename, 'rb') as f:
+            for part_num in range(1, parts + 1):
+                s3_kwargs['PartNumber'] = part_num
+                try:
+                    head = s3.head_object(**s3_kwargs)
+                except (BotoCoreError, ClientError) as e:
+                    module.fail_json_aws(e, msg="Failed to get head object")
+                digests.append(md5(f.read(int(head['ContentLength']))))
+
+        digest_squared = md5(b''.join(m.digest() for m in digests))
+        return '"{0}-{1}"'.format(digest_squared.hexdigest(), len(digests))
+    else:  # Compute the MD5 sum normally
+        return '"{0}"'.format(module.md5(filename))
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3.py
index a35fc9b2ee..95e6f71b38 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3.py
@@ -297,14 +297,14 @@ s3_keys:
   - prefix1/key2
 '''
 
-import hashlib
 import mimetypes
 import os
 from ansible.module_utils.six.moves.urllib.parse import urlparse
 from ssl import SSLError
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import to_text, to_native
 from ansible.module_utils.aws.core import AnsibleAWSModule
-from ansible.module_utils.ec2 import ec2_argument_spec, get_aws_connection_info, boto3_conn
+from ansible.module_utils.aws.s3 import calculate_etag, HAS_MD5
+from ansible.module_utils.ec2 import get_aws_connection_info, boto3_conn
 
 try:
     import botocore
@@ -340,42 +340,21 @@ def key_check(module, s3, bucket, obj, version=None, validate=True):
     return exists
 
 
-def keysum_compare(module, local_file, s3, bucket, obj, version=None):
-    s3_keysum = keysum(s3, bucket, obj, version=version)
-    if '-' in s3_keysum:  # Check for multipart, ETag is not a proper MD5 sum
-        parts = int(s3_keysum.split('-')[1])
-        md5s = []
+def etag_compare(module, local_file, s3, bucket, obj, version=None):
+    s3_etag = get_etag(s3, bucket, obj, version=version)
+    local_etag = calculate_etag(module, local_file, s3_etag, s3, bucket, obj, version)
 
-        with open(local_file, 'rb') as f:
-            for part_num in range(1, parts + 1):
-                # Get the part size for every part of the multipart uploaded object
-                if version:
-                    key_head = s3.head_object(Bucket=bucket, Key=obj, VersionId=version, PartNumber=part_num)
-                else:
-                    key_head = s3.head_object(Bucket=bucket, Key=obj, PartNumber=part_num)
-                part_size = int(key_head['ContentLength'])
-                data = f.read(part_size)
-                hash = hashlib.md5(data)
-                md5s.append(hash)
-
-        digests = b''.join(m.digest() for m in md5s)
-        digests_md5 = hashlib.md5(digests)
-        local_keysum = '{0}-{1}'.format(digests_md5.hexdigest(), len(md5s))
-    else:  # Compute the MD5 sum normally
-        local_keysum = module.md5(local_file)
-
-    return s3_keysum == local_keysum
+    return s3_etag == local_etag
 
 
-def keysum(s3, bucket, obj, version=None):
+def get_etag(s3, bucket, obj, version=None):
     if version:
         key_check = s3.head_object(Bucket=bucket, Key=obj, VersionId=version)
     else:
         key_check = s3.head_object(Bucket=bucket, Key=obj)
     if not key_check:
         return None
-    md5_remote = key_check['ETag'][1:-1]
-    return md5_remote
+    return key_check['ETag']
 
 
 def bucket_check(module, s3, bucket, validate=True):
@@ -670,32 +649,29 @@ def get_s3_connection(module, aws_connect_kwargs, location, rgw, s3_url, sig_4=F
 
 
 def main():
-    argument_spec = ec2_argument_spec()
-    argument_spec.update(
-        dict(
-            bucket=dict(required=True),
-            dest=dict(default=None, type='path'),
-            encrypt=dict(default=True, type='bool'),
-            encryption_mode=dict(choices=['AES256', 'aws:kms'], default='AES256'),
-            expiry=dict(default=600, type='int', aliases=['expiration']),
-            headers=dict(type='dict'),
-            marker=dict(default=""),
-            max_keys=dict(default=1000, type='int'),
-            metadata=dict(type='dict'),
-            mode=dict(choices=['get', 'put', 'delete', 'create', 'geturl', 'getstr', 'delobj', 'list'], required=True),
-            object=dict(),
-            permission=dict(type='list', default=['private']),
-            version=dict(default=None),
-            overwrite=dict(aliases=['force'], default='always'),
-            prefix=dict(default=""),
-            retries=dict(aliases=['retry'], type='int', default=0),
-            s3_url=dict(aliases=['S3_URL']),
-            dualstack=dict(default='no', type='bool'),
-            rgw=dict(default='no', type='bool'),
-            src=dict(),
-            ignore_nonexistent_bucket=dict(default=False, type='bool'),
-            encryption_kms_key_id=dict()
-        ),
+    argument_spec = dict(
+        bucket=dict(required=True),
+        dest=dict(default=None, type='path'),
+        encrypt=dict(default=True, type='bool'),
+        encryption_mode=dict(choices=['AES256', 'aws:kms'], default='AES256'),
+        expiry=dict(default=600, type='int', aliases=['expiration']),
+        headers=dict(type='dict'),
+        marker=dict(default=""),
+        max_keys=dict(default=1000, type='int'),
+        metadata=dict(type='dict'),
+        mode=dict(choices=['get', 'put', 'delete', 'create', 'geturl', 'getstr', 'delobj', 'list'], required=True),
+        object=dict(),
+        permission=dict(type='list', default=['private']),
+        version=dict(default=None),
+        overwrite=dict(aliases=['force'], default='always'),
+        prefix=dict(default=""),
+        retries=dict(aliases=['retry'], type='int', default=0),
+        s3_url=dict(aliases=['S3_URL']),
+        dualstack=dict(default='no', type='bool'),
+        rgw=dict(default='no', type='bool'),
+        src=dict(),
+        ignore_nonexistent_bucket=dict(default=False, type='bool'),
+        encryption_kms_key_id=dict()
     )
     module = AnsibleAWSModule(
         argument_spec=argument_spec,
@@ -735,6 +711,9 @@ def main():
         else:
             overwrite = 'never'
 
+    if overwrite == 'different' and not HAS_MD5:
+        module.fail_json(msg='overwrite=different is unavailable: ETag calculation requires MD5 support')
+
     region, ec2_url, aws_connect_kwargs = get_aws_connection_info(module, boto3=True)
 
     if region in ('us-east-1', '', None):
@@ -792,9 +771,7 @@ def main():
     if validate and mode not in ('create', 'put', 'delete') and not bucketrtn:
         module.fail_json(msg="Source bucket cannot be found.")
 
-    # If our mode is a GET operation (download), go through the procedure as appropriate ...
     if mode == 'get':
-        # Next, we check to see if the key in the bucket exists. If it exists, it also returns key_matches md5sum check.
         keyrtn = key_check(module, s3, bucket, obj, version=version, validate=validate)
         if keyrtn is False:
             if version:
@@ -802,86 +779,42 @@ def main():
             else:
                 module.fail_json(msg="Key %s does not exist." % obj)
 
-        # If the destination path doesn't exist or overwrite is True, no need to do the md5sum ETag check, so just download.
-        # Compare the remote MD5 sum of the object with the local dest md5sum, if it already exists.
-        if path_check(dest):
-            # Determine if the remote and local object are identical
-            if keysum_compare(module, dest, s3, bucket, obj, version=version):
-                sum_matches = True
-                if overwrite == 'always':
-                    try:
-                        download_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, dest, retries, version=version)
-                    except Sigv4Required:
-                        s3 = get_s3_connection(module, aws_connect_kwargs, location, rgw, s3_url, sig_4=True)
-                        download_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, dest, retries, version=version)
-                else:
-                    module.exit_json(msg="Local and remote object are identical, ignoring. Use overwrite=always parameter to force.", changed=False)
-            else:
-                sum_matches = False
+        if path_check(dest) and overwrite != 'always':
+            if overwrite == 'never':
+                module.exit_json(msg="Local object already exists and overwrite is disabled.", changed=False)
+            if etag_compare(module, dest, s3, bucket, obj, version=version):
+                module.exit_json(msg="Local and remote object are identical, ignoring. Use overwrite=always parameter to force.", changed=False)
 
-                if overwrite in ('always', 'different'):
-                    try:
-                        download_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, dest, retries, version=version)
-                    except Sigv4Required:
-                        s3 = get_s3_connection(module, aws_connect_kwargs, location, rgw, s3_url, sig_4=True)
-                        download_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, dest, retries, version=version)
-                else:
-                    module.exit_json(msg="WARNING: Checksums do not match. Use overwrite parameter to force download.")
-        else:
-            try:
-                download_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, dest, retries, version=version)
-            except Sigv4Required:
-                s3 = get_s3_connection(module, aws_connect_kwargs, location, rgw, s3_url, sig_4=True)
-                download_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, dest, retries, version=version)
+        try:
+            download_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, dest, retries, version=version)
+        except Sigv4Required:
+            s3 = get_s3_connection(module, aws_connect_kwargs, location, rgw, s3_url, sig_4=True)
+            download_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, dest, retries, version=version)
 
-    # if our mode is a PUT operation (upload), go through the procedure as appropriate ...
     if mode == 'put':
 
         # if putting an object in a bucket yet to be created, acls for the bucket and/or the object may be specified
         # these were separated into the variables bucket_acl and object_acl above
 
-        # Lets check the src path.
         if not path_check(src):
             module.fail_json(msg="Local object for PUT does not exist")
 
-        # Lets check to see if bucket exists to get ground truth.
         if bucketrtn:
             keyrtn = key_check(module, s3, bucket, obj, version=version, validate=validate)
-
-        # Lets check key state. Does it exist and if it does, compute the ETag md5sum.
-        if bucketrtn and keyrtn:
-            # Compare the local and remote object
-            if keysum_compare(module, src, s3, bucket, obj):
-                sum_matches = True
-                if overwrite == 'always':
-                    # only use valid object acls for the upload_s3file function
-                    module.params['permission'] = object_acl
-                    upload_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, src, expiry, metadata, encrypt, headers)
-                else:
-                    get_download_url(module, s3, bucket, obj, expiry, changed=False)
-            else:
-                sum_matches = False
-                if overwrite in ('always', 'different'):
-                    # only use valid object acls for the upload_s3file function
-                    module.params['permission'] = object_acl
-                    upload_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, src, expiry, metadata, encrypt, headers)
-                else:
-                    module.exit_json(msg="WARNING: Checksums do not match. Use overwrite parameter to force upload.")
-
-        # If neither exist (based on bucket existence), we can create both.
-        if not bucketrtn:
+        else:
+            # If the bucket doesn't exist we should create it.
             # only use valid bucket acls for create_bucket function
             module.params['permission'] = bucket_acl
             create_bucket(module, s3, bucket, location)
-            # only use valid object acls for the upload_s3file function
-            module.params['permission'] = object_acl
-            upload_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, src, expiry, metadata, encrypt, headers)
 
-        # If bucket exists but key doesn't, just upload.
-        if bucketrtn and not keyrtn:
-            # only use valid object acls for the upload_s3file function
-            module.params['permission'] = object_acl
-            upload_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, src, expiry, metadata, encrypt, headers)
+        if keyrtn and overwrite != 'always':
+            if overwrite == 'never' or etag_compare(module, src, s3, bucket, obj):
+                # Return the download URL for the existing object
+                get_download_url(module, s3, bucket, obj, expiry, changed=False)
+
+        # only use valid object acls for the upload_s3file function
+        module.params['permission'] = object_acl
+        upload_s3file(module, s3, bucket, obj, src, expiry, metadata, encrypt, headers)
 
     # Delete an object from a bucket, not the entire bucket
     if mode == 'delobj':
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/aws_s3/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/aws_s3/tasks/main.yml
index d72c487735..a0a7aa7950 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/aws_s3/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/aws_s3/tasks/main.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,15 @@
   no_log: yes
 
 - block:
+    - name: Create temporary directory
+      tempfile:
+        state: directory
+      register: tmpdir
+
+    - name: Create content
+      set_fact:
+          content: "{{ lookup('password', '/dev/null chars=ascii_letters,digits,hexdigits,punctuation') }}"
+
     - name: test create bucket without permissions
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
@@ -18,8 +27,7 @@
       register: result
       ignore_errors: yes
 
-    - name: assert nice message returned
-      assert:
+    - assert:
         that:
           - result is failed
           - "result.msg != 'MODULE FAILURE'"
@@ -30,10 +38,10 @@
         mode: create
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       register: result
-    - name: assert changed is True
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - result.changed == True
+          - result is changed
 
     - name: trying to create a bucket name that already exists
       aws_s3:
@@ -41,54 +49,49 @@
         mode: create
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       register: result
-    - name: assert changed is False since the bucket already exists
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - result.changed == False
+          - result is not changed
 
-    - name: create temporary file object to put in a bucket
-      tempfile:
-      register: tmp1
-    - name: make random contents
-      set_fact:
-          content: "{{ lookup('password', '/dev/null chars=ascii_letters,digits,hexdigits,punctuation') }}"
-
-    - name: give temporary file data
+    - name: Create local upload.txt
       copy:
         content: "{{ content }}"
-        dest: "{{ tmp1.path }}"
-    - name: get the stat of the file
+        dest: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/upload.txt"
+
+    - name: stat the file
       stat:
-        path: "{{ tmp1.path }}"
+        path: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/upload.txt"
         get_checksum: yes
-      register: file1stat
+      register: upload_file
 
     - name: test putting an object in the bucket
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
         mode: put
-        src: "{{ tmp1.path }}"
+        src: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/upload.txt"
         object: delete.txt
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
-    - name: assert object exists
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - result.changed == True
+          - result is changed
           - result.msg == "PUT operation complete"
 
     - name: test using aws_s3 with async
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
         mode: put
-        src: "{{ tmp1.path }}"
+        src: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/upload.txt"
         object: delete.txt
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       register: test_async
       async: 30
       poll: 0
+
     - name: ensure it completed
       async_status:
         jid: "{{ test_async.ansible_job_id }}"
@@ -96,55 +99,176 @@
       until: status is finished
       retries: 10
 
+    - name: test put with overwrite=different and unmodified object
+      aws_s3:
+        bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
+        mode: put
+        src: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/upload.txt"
+        object: delete.txt
+        overwrite: different
+        <<: *aws_connection_info
+      retries: 3
+      delay: 3
+      register: result
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - result is not changed
+
     - name: check that roles file lookups work as expected
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
         mode: put
         src: hello.txt
-        object: hello.txt
-        <<: *aws_connection_info
-      retries: 3
-      delay: 3
-      register: result
-    - name: assert object exists
-      assert:
-        that:
-          - result.changed == True
-          - result.msg == "PUT operation complete"
-    - name: remove hello.txt (deletion tests are later)
-      aws_s3:
-        bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
-        mode: delobj
-        object: hello.txt
+        object: delete.txt
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
 
-    - name: create a second temp file to download the object from the bucket
-      tempfile:
-      register: tmp2
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - result is changed
+          - result.msg == "PUT operation complete"
+
+    - name: test put with overwrite=never
+      aws_s3:
+        bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
+        mode: put
+        src: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/upload.txt"
+        object: delete.txt
+        overwrite: never
+        <<: *aws_connection_info
+      retries: 3
+      delay: 3
+      register: result
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - result is not changed
+
+    - name: test put with overwrite=different and modified object
+      aws_s3:
+        bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
+        mode: put
+        src: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/upload.txt"
+        object: delete.txt
+        overwrite: different
+        <<: *aws_connection_info
+      retries: 3
+      delay: 3
+      register: result
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - result is changed
+
+    - name: test put with overwrite=always
+      aws_s3:
+        bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
+        mode: put
+        src: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/upload.txt"
+        object: delete.txt
+        overwrite: always
+        <<: *aws_connection_info
+      retries: 3
+      delay: 3
+      register: result
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - result is changed
 
     - name: test get object
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
         mode: get
-        dest: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
+        dest: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download.txt"
         object: delete.txt
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
       until: "result.msg == 'GET operation complete'"
-    - name: get the stat of the file so we can compare the checksums
+
+    - name: stat the file so we can compare the checksums
       stat:
-        path: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
+        path: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download.txt"
         get_checksum: yes
-      register: file2stat
-    - name: assert checksums are the same
-      assert:
+      register: download_file
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - file1stat.stat.checksum == file2stat.stat.checksum
+          - upload_file.stat.checksum == download_file.stat.checksum
+
+    - name: test get with overwrite=different and identical files
+      aws_s3:
+        bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
+        mode: get
+        dest: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download.txt"
+        object: delete.txt
+        overwrite: different
+        <<: *aws_connection_info
+      retries: 3
+      delay: 3
+      register: result
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - result is not changed
+
+    - name: modify destination
+      copy:
+        dest: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download.txt"
+        src: hello.txt
+
+    - name: test get with overwrite=never
+      aws_s3:
+        bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
+        mode: get
+        dest: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download.txt"
+        object: delete.txt
+        overwrite: never
+        <<: *aws_connection_info
+      retries: 3
+      delay: 3
+      register: result
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - result is not changed
+
+    - name: test get with overwrite=different and modified file
+      aws_s3:
+        bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
+        mode: get
+        dest: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download.txt"
+        object: delete.txt
+        overwrite: different
+        <<: *aws_connection_info
+      retries: 3
+      delay: 3
+      register: result
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - result is changed
+
+    - name: test get with overwrite=always
+      aws_s3:
+        bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
+        mode: get
+        dest: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download.txt"
+        object: delete.txt
+        overwrite: always
+        <<: *aws_connection_info
+      retries: 3
+      delay: 3
+      register: result
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - result is changed
 
     - name: test geturl of the object
       aws_s3:
@@ -155,12 +279,12 @@
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
-      until: result.changed
-    - name: assert we have the object's url
-      assert:
+      until: result is changed
+
+    - assert:
         that:
           - "'Download url:' in result.msg"
-          - result.changed == True
+          - result is changed
 
     - name: test getstr of the object
       aws_s3:
@@ -171,8 +295,8 @@
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
-    - name: assert that we have the object's contents
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
           - result.msg == "GET operation complete"
           - result.contents == content
@@ -185,8 +309,8 @@
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
-    - name: assert that the keys are correct
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
           - "'delete.txt' in result.s3_keys"
           - result.msg == "LIST operation complete"
@@ -200,61 +324,51 @@
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
-    - name: assert that delete.txt is no longer an object in the bucket deleteme
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
           - "'Object deleted from bucket' in result.msg"
-          - result.changed == True
-    - name: assert that delete.txt is no longer an object in the bucket deleteme
-      assert:
-        that:
-          - "'Object deleted from bucket' in result.msg"
-          - result.changed == True
-    - name: clean up temp file
-      file:
-        path: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
-        state: absent
+          - result is changed
 
     - name: test putting an encrypted object in the bucket
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
         mode: put
-        src: "{{ tmp1.path }}"
+        src: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/upload.txt"
         encrypt: yes
         object: delete_encrypt.txt
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
-    - name: assert object exists
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - result.changed == True
+          - result is changed
           - result.msg == "PUT operation complete"
 
-    - name: create a second temp file to download the object from the bucket
-      tempfile:
-      register: tmp2
     - name: test get encrypted object
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
         mode: get
-        dest: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
+        dest: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download_encrypted.txt"
         object: delete_encrypt.txt
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
       until: "result.msg == 'GET operation complete'"
-    - name: get the stat of the file so we can compare the checksums
+
+    - name: stat the file so we can compare the checksums
       stat:
-        path: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
+        path: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download_encrypted.txt"
         get_checksum: yes
-      register: file2stat
-    - name: assert checksums are the same
-      assert:
+      register: download_file
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - file1stat.stat.checksum == file2stat.stat.checksum
+          - upload_file.stat.checksum == download_file.stat.checksum
+
     - name: delete encrypted file
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
@@ -263,16 +377,12 @@
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
-    - name: clean up temp file
-      file:
-        path: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
-        state: absent
 
     - name: test putting an aws:kms encrypted object in the bucket
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
         mode: put
-        src: "{{ tmp1.path }}"
+        src: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/upload.txt"
         encrypt: yes
         encryption_mode: aws:kms
         object: delete_encrypt_kms.txt
@@ -280,46 +390,36 @@
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
-    - name: assert object exists
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - result.changed == True
+          - result is changed
           - result.msg == "PUT operation complete"
 
-    - name: create a second temp file to download the object from the bucket
-      tempfile:
-      register: tmp2
     - name: test get KMS encrypted object
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
         mode: get
-        dest: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
+        dest: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download_kms.txt"
         object: delete_encrypt_kms.txt
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
       until: "result.msg == 'GET operation complete'"
+
     - name: get the stat of the file so we can compare the checksums
       stat:
-        path: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
+        path: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download_kms.txt"
         get_checksum: yes
-      register: file2stat
-    - name: assert checksums are the same
-      assert:
+      register: download_file
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - file1stat.stat.checksum == file2stat.stat.checksum
+          - upload_file.stat.checksum == download_file.stat.checksum
+
       # FIXME - could use a test that checks uploaded file is *actually* aws:kms encrypted
-    - name: test get KMS encrypted object using v4 signature
-      aws_s3:
-        bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
-        mode: get
-        dest: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
-        object: delete_encrypt_kms.txt
-        <<: *aws_connection_info
-      retries: 3
-      delay: 3
-      until: "result.msg == 'GET operation complete'"
+
     - name: delete KMS encrypted file
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
@@ -328,10 +428,6 @@
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
-    - name: clean up temp file
-      file:
-        path: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
-        state: absent
 
     # FIXME: could use a test that checks non standard KMS key
     #        but that would require ability to create and remove such keys.
@@ -346,11 +442,12 @@
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
       register: result
-    - name: assert that empty path is created
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
           - "'Virtual directory foo/bar/baz/ created' in result.msg"
-          - result.changed == True
+          - result is changed
+
     - name: test deletion of empty path
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
@@ -368,11 +465,11 @@
       register: result
       retries: 3
       delay: 3
-      until: result.changed
-    - name: assert that changed is True
-      assert:
+      until: result is changed
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - result.changed == True
+          - result is changed
 
     - name: test create a bucket with a dot in the name
       aws_s3:
@@ -380,10 +477,10 @@
         mode: create
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       register: result
-    - name: assert that changed is True
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - result.changed == True
+          - result is changed
 
     - name: test delete a bucket with a dot in the name
       aws_s3:
@@ -391,10 +488,10 @@
         mode: delete
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       register: result
-    - name: assert that changed is True
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - result.changed == True
+          - result is changed
 
     - name: test delete a nonexistent bucket
       aws_s3:
@@ -402,19 +499,19 @@
         mode: delete
         <<: *aws_connection_info
       register: result
-    - name: assert that changed is False
-      assert:
+
+    - assert:
         that:
-          - result.changed == False
+          - result is not changed
 
     - name: make tempfile 4 GB for OSX
       command:
-        _raw_params: "dd if=/dev/zero of={{ tmp1.path }} bs=1m count=4096"
+        _raw_params: "dd if=/dev/zero of={{ tmpdir.path }}/largefile bs=1m count=4096"
       when: ansible_distribution == 'MacOSX'
 
     - name: make tempfile 4 GB for linux
       command:
-        _raw_params: "dd if=/dev/zero of={{ tmp1.path }} bs=1M count=4096"
+        _raw_params: "dd if=/dev/zero of={{ tmpdir.path }}/largefile bs=1M count=4096"
       when: ansible_system == 'Linux'
 
     - name: test multipart download - platform specific
@@ -429,7 +526,7 @@
           aws_s3:
             bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
             mode: put
-            src: "{{ tmp1.path }}"
+            src: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/largefile"
             object: multipart.txt
             <<: *aws_connection_info
 
@@ -437,7 +534,7 @@
           aws_s3:
             bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
             mode: get
-            dest: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
+            dest: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download.txt"
             object: multipart.txt
             overwrite: different
             <<: *aws_connection_info
@@ -446,53 +543,43 @@
           until: "result.msg == 'GET operation complete'"
           register: result
 
-        - name: assert the file was downloaded once
-          assert:
+        - assert:
             that:
-              - result.changed
+              - result is changed
 
         - name: download file again
           aws_s3:
             bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
             mode: get
-            dest: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
+            dest: "{{ tmpdir.path }}/download.txt"
             object: multipart.txt
             overwrite: different
             <<: *aws_connection_info
           register: result
 
-        - name: assert the file was not redownloaded
-          assert:
+        - assert:
             that:
-              - not result.changed
+              - result is not changed
       when: ansible_system == 'Linux' or ansible_distribution == 'MacOSX'
 
   always:
-    ###### TEARDOWN STARTS HERE ######
-
     - name: remove uploaded files
       aws_s3:
         bucket: "{{ bucket_name }}"
         mode: delobj
         object: "{{ item }}"
         <<: *aws_connection_info
-      with_items:
+      loop:
         - hello.txt
         - delete.txt
         - delete_encrypt.txt
         - delete_encrypt_kms.txt
       ignore_errors: yes
 
-    - name: delete temporary file 1
+    - name: delete temporary files
       file:
         state: absent
-        path: "{{ tmp1.path }}"
-      ignore_errors: yes
-
-    - name: delete temporary file 2
-      file:
-        state: absent
-        path: "{{ tmp2.path }}"
+        path: "{{ tmpdir.path }}"
       ignore_errors: yes
 
     - name: delete the bucket