diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
index 940c1736c9..d8dbb464da 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class RoleDefinition(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
             return ds
 
         role_name = ds.get('role', ds.get('name'))
-        if not role_name:
+        if not role_name or not isinstance(role_name, string_types):
             raise AnsibleError('role definitions must contain a role name', obj=ds)
 
         return role_name