diff --git a/files/file.py b/files/file.py
index 329fe1e0263..65d6b01d233 100644
--- a/files/file.py
+++ b/files/file.py
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ def main():
             recurse  = dict(default=False, type='bool'),
             force = dict(required=False, default=False, type='bool'),
             diff_peek = dict(default=None),
-            validate = dict(required=False, default=None),
+            validate = dict(required=False, default=None, type='bool'),
             src = dict(required=False, default=None),
         ),
         add_file_common_args=True,