diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/system/iptables.py b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/system/iptables.py
index 83eb1b714f..3e42a711db 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/system/iptables.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/system/iptables.py
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ def main():
             to_ports=dict(required=False, default=None, type='str'),
             comment=dict(required=False, default=None, type='str'),
             ctstate=dict(required=False, default=[], type='list'),
-            limit=dict(required=False, default=[], type='list'),
+            limit=dict(required=False, default=None, type='str'),
         ),
     )
     args = dict(