diff --git a/awx/main/models/jobs.py b/awx/main/models/jobs.py
index 2491ac6e9b..53a23acc26 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/jobs.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/jobs.py
@@ -447,11 +447,21 @@ class JobTemplate(UnifiedJobTemplate, JobOptions, ResourceMixin):
                     if field == 'extra_vars' and self.survey_enabled and self.survey_spec:
                         # Accept vars defined in the survey and no others
                         survey_vars = [question['variable'] for question in self.survey_spec.get('spec', [])]
-                        for key in kwargs[field]:
+                        extra_vars = kwargs[field]
+                        if isinstance(extra_vars, basestring):
+                            try:
+                                extra_vars = json.loads(extra_vars)
+                            except (ValueError, TypeError):
+                                try:
+                                    extra_vars = yaml.safe_load(extra_vars)
+                                    assert isinstance(extra_vars, dict)
+                                except (yaml.YAMLError, TypeError, AttributeError, AssertionError):
+                                    extra_vars = {}
+                        for key in extra_vars:
                             if key in survey_vars:
-                                prompted_fields[field][key] = kwargs[field][key]
+                                prompted_fields[field][key] = extra_vars[key]
                             else:
-                                ignored_fields[field][key] = kwargs[field][key]
+                                ignored_fields[field][key] = extra_vars[key]
                     else:
                         ignored_fields[field] = kwargs[field]
 
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_job_template_unit.py b/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_job_template_unit.py
index a25cce6f6c..b5ba7b8301 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_job_template_unit.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_job_template_unit.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import pytest
+import json
 
 
 def test_missing_project_error(job_template_factory):
@@ -34,6 +35,16 @@ def test_inventory_credential_contradictions(job_template_factory):
     assert 'inventory' in validation_errors
     assert 'credential' in validation_errors
 
+def test_survey_answers_as_string(job_template_factory):
+    objects = job_template_factory(
+        'job-template-with-survey',
+        survey=['var1'],
+        persisted=False)
+    jt = objects.job_template
+    user_extra_vars = json.dumps({'var1': 'asdf'})
+    accepted, ignored = jt._accept_or_ignore_job_kwargs(extra_vars=user_extra_vars)
+    assert 'var1' in accepted['extra_vars']
+
 @pytest.mark.survey
 def test_survey_password_list(job_with_secret_key_unit):
     """Verify that survey_password_variables method gives a list of survey passwords"""