diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/lookup_plugins/env.py b/lib/ansible/runner/lookup_plugins/env.py
index 86b1da5aaa..6acc5f59dd 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/lookup_plugins/env.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/lookup_plugins/env.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class LookupModule(object):
 
         terms = utils.listify_lookup_plugin_terms(terms, self.basedir, inject) 
 
-        if isinstance(basestring, terms):
+        if isinstance(terms, basestring):
             terms = [ terms ]
 
         ret = []