diff --git a/awx/api/serializers.py b/awx/api/serializers.py
index 0b0526a0ee..ea0fb065f9 100644
--- a/awx/api/serializers.py
+++ b/awx/api/serializers.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import re
 import logging
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from dateutil import rrule
-from ast import literal_eval
 
 from rest_framework_mongoengine.serializers import DocumentSerializer
 
@@ -1955,6 +1954,7 @@ class JobLaunchSerializer(BaseSerializer):
     variables_needed_to_start = serializers.ReadOnlyField()
     credential_needed_to_start = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
     survey_enabled = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
+    extra_vars = VerbatimField(required=False)
 
     class Meta:
         model = JobTemplate
@@ -2001,20 +2001,16 @@ class JobLaunchSerializer(BaseSerializer):
             except KeyError:
                 errors['passwords_needed_to_start'] = credential.passwords_needed
 
-        extra_vars = force_text(attrs.get('extra_vars', {}))
-        try:
-            extra_vars = literal_eval(extra_vars)
-            extra_vars = json.dumps(extra_vars)
-        except Exception:
-            pass
+        extra_vars = attrs.get('extra_vars', {})
 
-        try:
-            extra_vars = json.loads(extra_vars)
-        except (ValueError, TypeError):
+        if isinstance(extra_vars, basestring):
             try:
-                extra_vars = yaml.safe_load(extra_vars)
-            except (yaml.YAMLError, TypeError, AttributeError):
-                errors['extra_vars'] = 'Must be valid JSON or YAML'
+                extra_vars = json.loads(extra_vars)
+            except (ValueError, TypeError):
+                try:
+                    extra_vars = yaml.safe_load(extra_vars)
+                except (yaml.YAMLError, TypeError, AttributeError):
+                    errors['extra_vars'] = 'Must be valid JSON or YAML'
 
         if not isinstance(extra_vars, dict):
             extra_vars = {}
diff --git a/awx/api/views.py b/awx/api/views.py
index 4b316ffd77..65f4f9b965 100644
--- a/awx/api/views.py
+++ b/awx/api/views.py
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ class ApiV1ConfigView(APIView):
     def post(self, request):
         if not request.user.is_superuser:
             return Response(None, status=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND)
-        if not type(request.data) == dict:
+        if not isinstance(request.data, dict):
             return Response({"error": "Invalid license data"}, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
         if "eula_accepted" not in request.data:
             return Response({"error": "Missing 'eula_accepted' property"}, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
@@ -1941,13 +1941,13 @@ class JobTemplateSurveySpec(GenericAPIView):
             return Response(dict(error="'description' missing from survey spec"), status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
         if "spec" not in obj.survey_spec:
             return Response(dict(error="'spec' missing from survey spec"), status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
-        if type(obj.survey_spec["spec"]) != list:
+        if not isinstance(obj.survey_spec["spec"], list):
             return Response(dict(error="'spec' must be a list of items"), status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
         if len(obj.survey_spec["spec"]) < 1:
             return Response(dict(error="'spec' doesn't contain any items"), status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
         idx = 0
         for survey_item in obj.survey_spec["spec"]:
-            if type(survey_item) != dict:
+            if not isinstance(survey_item, dict):
                 return Response(dict(error="survey element %s is not a json object" % str(idx)), status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
             if "type" not in survey_item:
                 return Response(dict(error="'type' missing from survey element %s" % str(idx)), status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
diff --git a/awx/main/models/jobs.py b/awx/main/models/jobs.py
index 833d20a9b4..facb0f32b4 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/jobs.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/jobs.py
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ class JobTemplate(UnifiedJobTemplate, JobOptions):
                 except Exception:
                     try:
                         kwargs_extra_vars = yaml.safe_load(kwargs_extra_vars)
-                        assert type(kwargs_extra_vars) is dict
+                        assert isinstance(kwargs_extra_vars, dict)
                     except:
                         kwargs_extra_vars = {}
         else:
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ class Job(UnifiedJob, JobOptions):
 
     def handle_extra_data(self, extra_data):
         extra_vars = {}
-        if type(extra_data) == dict:
+        if isinstance(extra_data, dict):
             extra_vars = extra_data
         elif extra_data is None:
             return
@@ -1070,7 +1070,7 @@ class SystemJob(UnifiedJob, SystemJobOptions):
 
     def handle_extra_data(self, extra_data):
         extra_vars = {}
-        if type(extra_data) == dict:
+        if isinstance(extra_data, dict):
             extra_vars = extra_data
         elif extra_data is None:
             return
diff --git a/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py b/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
index 86ab0b3143..9b4be868c3 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ class UnifiedJobTemplate(PolymorphicModel, CommonModelNameNotUnique):
                     value = value.id
                 create_kwargs[id_field_name] = value
             elif field_name in kwargs:
-                if field_name == 'extra_vars' and type(kwargs[field_name]) == dict:
+                if field_name == 'extra_vars' and isinstance(kwargs[field_name], dict):
                     create_kwargs[field_name] = json.dumps(kwargs['extra_vars'])
                 else:
                     create_kwargs[field_name] = kwargs[field_name]
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/old/projects.py b/awx/main/tests/old/projects.py
index 45c96ca587..427f3da55f 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/old/projects.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/old/projects.py
@@ -758,6 +758,7 @@ class ProjectsTest(BaseTransactionTest):
         team_permission['name'] += '2'
         team_permission['user'] = user.pk
         self.post(url, team_permission, expect=400, auth=self.get_super_credentials())
+        del team_permission['user']
 
         # can list permissions on a user
         url = reverse('api:user_permissions_list', args=(user.pk,))