diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
index 72b4cbc3572..7554b92b8e0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
@@ -286,6 +286,8 @@ class Play(Base, Taggable, Become):
     def get_vars_files(self):
         if self.vars_files is None:
             return []
+        elif not isinstance(self.vars_files, list):
+            return [self.vars_files]
         return self.vars_files
 
     def get_handlers(self):