diff --git a/awx/main/models/inventory.py b/awx/main/models/inventory.py
index ac6ab5acc0..04895217b3 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/inventory.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/inventory.py
@@ -2320,8 +2320,12 @@ class vmware(PluginFileInjector):
 
         host_filters = vmware_opts.get('host_filters')
         if host_filters:
-            pass
-            # ret['resources'] = host_filters.split(',')  # does not follow same pattern
+            ret.setdefault('host_filters', [])
+            for hf in host_filters.split(','):
+                striped_hf = hf.replace('{', '').replace('}', '').strip()  # make best effort
+                if not striped_hf:
+                    continue
+                ret['host_filters'].append(striped_hf)
 
         groupby_patterns = vmware_opts.get('groupby_patterns')
         if groupby_patterns:
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/data/inventory/plugins/vmware/files/vmware_vm_inventory.yml b/awx/main/tests/data/inventory/plugins/vmware/files/vmware_vm_inventory.yml
index feb2150190..3bc5269dd8 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/data/inventory/plugins/vmware/files/vmware_vm_inventory.yml
+++ b/awx/main/tests/data/inventory/plugins/vmware/files/vmware_vm_inventory.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+host_filters:
+- config.name == "only_my_server"
+- somevar == "bar"
 keyed_groups:
 - key: fouo
   prefix: ''
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/data/inventory/scripts/vmware/files/file_reference b/awx/main/tests/data/inventory/scripts/vmware/files/file_reference
index 8a4d8a7700..5282c2db71 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/data/inventory/scripts/vmware/files/file_reference
+++ b/awx/main/tests/data/inventory/scripts/vmware/files/file_reference
@@ -5,6 +5,6 @@ username = fooo
 password = fooo
 server = https://foo.invalid
 base_source_var = value_of_var
-host_filters = foobaa
+host_filters = {{ config.name == "only_my_server" }},{{ somevar == "bar"}}
 groupby_patterns = fouo
 
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/functional/test_inventory_source_injectors.py b/awx/main/tests/functional/test_inventory_source_injectors.py
index 2557b158d6..e776753274 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/functional/test_inventory_source_injectors.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/functional/test_inventory_source_injectors.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ DATA = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(data.__file__), 'inventory')
 
 TEST_SOURCE_FIELDS = {
     'vmware': {
-        'instance_filters': 'foobaa',
+        'instance_filters': '{{ config.name == "only_my_server" }},{{ somevar == "bar"}}',
         'group_by': 'fouo'
     },
     'ec2': {