diff --git a/app/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/inventory/parser.rb b/app/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/inventory/parser.rb
index f9f128250..d0117c812 100644
--- a/app/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/inventory/parser.rb
+++ b/app/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/inventory/parser.rb
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def parse_customization_spec_manager(_object, kind, props)
         :typ              => spec_info[:type],
         :description      => spec_info[:description],
         :last_update_time => spec_info[:last_update_time].to_s,
-        :spec             => rbvmomi_to_vim_types(spec_info[:spec])
+        :spec             => rbvmomi_to_basic_types(spec_info[:spec]).deep_stringify_keys
       )
     end
   end
@@ -392,12 +392,10 @@ def lazy_find_managed_object(managed_object)
     parent_collection.lazy_find(managed_object._ref)
   end
 
-  def rbvmomi_to_vim_types(obj)
+  def rbvmomi_to_basic_types(obj)
     case obj
     when RbVmomi::BasicTypes::DataObject
-      VimHash.new(obj.class.wsdl_name) do |new_obj|
-        obj.props.each { |k, v| new_obj[k.to_s] = rbvmomi_to_vim_types(v) }
-      end
+      obj.props.transform_values { |v| rbvmomi_to_basic_types(v) }
     when Array
       obj.map { |v| rbvmomi_to_basic_types(v) }
     else
diff --git a/app/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/provision/customization.rb b/app/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/provision/customization.rb
index 97cdbaccd..92352d321 100644
--- a/app/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/provision/customization.rb
+++ b/app/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/provision/customization.rb
@@ -9,9 +9,11 @@ def build_customization_spec
 
     # If an existing VC customization spec was selected connect to VC and get the spec
     custom_spec_name = get_option(:sysprep_custom_spec).to_s.strip
+    custom_spec_name = nil if custom_spec_name == "__VC__NONE__"
+
     sysprep_spec_override = get_option(:sysprep_spec_override)
-    spec = load_customization_spec(custom_spec_name)
-    spec = spec.spec unless spec.nil?
+    spec = load_customization_spec(custom_spec_name) if custom_spec_name
+
     _log.info "Loaded custom spec [#{custom_spec_name}].  Override flag: [#{sysprep_spec_override}]"
     if spec && sysprep_spec_override == false
       adjust_nicSettingMap(spec)
@@ -197,18 +199,18 @@ def validate_customization_spec(custom_spec)
   end
 
   def load_customization_spec(custom_spec_name)
-    custom_spec_name = nil if custom_spec_name == "__VC__NONE__"
-    unless custom_spec_name.blank?
-      _log.info "Using customization spec [#{custom_spec_name}]"
-      cs = source.ext_management_system.customization_specs.find_by_id(custom_spec_name)
-      cs = source.ext_management_system.customization_specs.find_by(:name => custom_spec_name) if cs.nil?
-      raise MiqException::MiqProvisionError, "Customization Specification [#{custom_spec_name}] does not exist." if cs.nil?
-      raise MiqException::MiqProvisionError, "Customization Specification [#{custom_spec_name}] for OS type [#{cs[:typ]}] does not match the template VM OS" if cs[:typ].downcase != source.platform
-      _log.info "Using customization spec [#{cs.name}]"
-      return cs
-    else
-      _log.info "Customization spec name is empty, no spec will be loaded."
-      return nil
+    _log.info "Using customization spec [#{custom_spec_name}]"
+    cs = source.ext_management_system.customization_specs.find_by_id(custom_spec_name)
+    cs = source.ext_management_system.customization_specs.find_by(:name => custom_spec_name) if cs.nil?
+    raise MiqException::MiqProvisionError, "Customization Specification [#{custom_spec_name}] does not exist." if cs.nil?
+    raise MiqException::MiqProvisionError, "Customization Specification [#{custom_spec_name}] for OS type [#{cs[:typ]}] does not match the template VM OS" if cs[:typ].downcase != source.platform
+    _log.info "Using customization spec [#{cs.name}]"
+
+    source.ext_management_system.with_provider_connection do |vim|
+      vim.getVimCustomizationSpecManager&.getCustomizationSpec(cs.name)&.spec
+    rescue Handsoap::Fault => err
+      _log.warn("Failed to load customization spec [#{cs.name}]: #{err}")
+      nil
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/provision/customization_spec.rb b/spec/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/provision/customization_spec.rb
index a8016394f..2839feab9 100644
--- a/spec/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/provision/customization_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/manageiq/providers/vmware/infra_manager/provision/customization_spec.rb
@@ -97,7 +97,11 @@
   end
 
   context 'build_customization_spec for windows template' do
+    before do
+
+    end
     it 'loads existing spec' do
+      expect(prov_vm).to receive(:load_customization_spec).and_return(spec)
       expect(prov_vm.build_customization_spec).to(eq(spec))
     end
 
@@ -108,7 +112,9 @@
       spec_for_compare.identity.userData.orgName = options[:sysprep_organization]
       options[:sysprep_full_name] = 'sysprep_full_name_value'
       spec_for_compare.identity.userData.fullName = options[:sysprep_full_name]
-      spec_for_compare.identity.identification = {}
+      spec_for_compare.identity.identification = VimHash.new
+
+      expect(prov_vm).to receive(:load_customization_spec).and_return(spec)
       expect(prov_vm.build_customization_spec).to(eq(spec_for_compare))
     end
 
@@ -116,6 +122,7 @@
       custom_spec.spec = nil
       options[:sysprep_full_name] = 'sysprep_full_name_value'
       options[:sysprep_organization] = 'sysprep_organization_value'
+      expect(prov_vm).to receive(:load_customization_spec).and_return(nil)
       expect(prov_vm.build_customization_spec).to(eq(new_spec))
     end
   end