diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/playbook_include.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/playbook_include.py
index 54ca63f36fc..86532cca71a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/playbook_include.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/playbook_include.py
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 
 import os
 
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
-from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleAssertionError
+from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, string_types
 from ansible.parsing.splitter import split_args, parse_kv
 from ansible.parsing.yaml.objects import AnsibleBaseYAMLObject, AnsibleMapping
 from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
@@ -135,6 +135,8 @@ class PlaybookInclude(Base, Conditional, Taggable):
 
         if v is None:
             raise AnsibleParserError("playbook import parameter is missing", obj=ds)
+        elif not isinstance(v, string_types):
+            raise AnsibleParserError("playbook import parameter must be a string indicating a file path, got %s instead" % type(v), obj=ds)
 
         # The import_playbook line must include at least one item, which is the filename
         # to import. Anything after that should be regarded as a parameter to the import