diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/database/misc/riak.py b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/database/misc/riak.py
index 1f1cd11e922..ccdec82f0af 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/database/misc/riak.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/database/misc/riak.py
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def main():
         argument_spec=dict(
         command=dict(required=False, default=None, choices=[
                     'ping', 'kv_test', 'join', 'plan', 'commit']),
-        config_dir=dict(default='/etc/riak'),
+        config_dir=dict(default='/etc/riak', type='path'),
         http_conn=dict(required=False, default='127.0.0.1:8098'),
         target_node=dict(default='riak@127.0.0.1', required=False),
         wait_for_handoffs=dict(default=False, type='int'),