diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/ansible_freeipa_module.py b/plugins/module_utils/ansible_freeipa_module.py
index 1fe38ef959..ff4fdcb3c0 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/ansible_freeipa_module.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/ansible_freeipa_module.py
@@ -733,6 +733,8 @@ def _check_exists(module, _type, name):
 
     ipa_realm = module.ipa_get_realm()
     _principal = []
+    if not isinstance(principal, (list, tuple)):
+        principal = [principal]
     for _princ in principal:
         princ = _princ
         realm = ipa_realm