diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/lookup_plugins/dnstxt.py b/lib/ansible/runner/lookup_plugins/dnstxt.py
index 28ec2e7b614..23c465cd052 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/lookup_plugins/dnstxt.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/lookup_plugins/dnstxt.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class LookupModule(object):
 
         terms = utils.listify_lookup_plugin_terms(terms, self.basedir, inject) 
 
-        if isinstance(basestring, terms):
+        if isinstance(terms, basestring):
             terms = [ terms ]
 
         ret = []