diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysctl.py b/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysctl.py
index 4517c724ca9..c5a68685053 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysctl.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysctl.py
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ def main():
     module = AnsibleModule(
         argument_spec = dict(
             name = dict(aliases=['key'], required=True),
-            value = dict(aliases=['val'], required=False),
+            value = dict(aliases=['val'], required=False, type='str'),
             state = dict(default='present', choices=['present', 'absent']),
             reload = dict(default=True, type='bool'),
             sysctl_set = dict(default=False, type='bool'),