diff --git a/cloud/amazon/cloudformation.py b/cloud/amazon/cloudformation.py
index 236bc89000d..7c9f48148ce 100644
--- a/cloud/amazon/cloudformation.py
+++ b/cloud/amazon/cloudformation.py
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ def main():
             stack_name=dict(required=True),
             template_parameters=dict(required=False, type='dict', default={}),
             state=dict(default='present', choices=['present', 'absent']),
-            template=dict(default=None, required=False),
+            template=dict(default=None, required=False, type='path'),
             notification_arns=dict(default=None, required=False),
             stack_policy=dict(default=None, required=False),
             disable_rollback=dict(default=False, type='bool'),