diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
index d4e4beaa38..8124eb9a70 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
@@ -2606,10 +2606,10 @@ class AnsibleModule(object):
             if use_unsafe_shell:
                 args = " ".join([shlex_quote(x) for x in args])
                 shell = True
-        elif isinstance(args, (binary_type, text_type)) and use_unsafe_shell:
-            shell = True
         elif isinstance(args, (binary_type, text_type)):
-            if not use_unsafe_shell:
+            if use_unsafe_shell:
+                shell = True
+            else:
                 # On python2.6 and below, shlex has problems with text type
                 # On python3, shlex needs a text type.
                 if PY2: