diff --git a/tensorflow/python/framework/tensor_util.py b/tensorflow/python/framework/tensor_util.py
index dc6076294e3..1663136507a 100644
--- a/tensorflow/python/framework/tensor_util.py
+++ b/tensorflow/python/framework/tensor_util.py
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ def _GetDenseDimensions(list_of_lists):
 
 
 def _FlattenToStrings(nested_strings):
-  if isinstance(nested_strings, list):
+  if isinstance(nested_strings, (list, tuple)):
     for inner in nested_strings:
       for flattened_string in _FlattenToStrings(inner):
         yield flattened_string
diff --git a/tensorflow/python/framework/tensor_util_test.py b/tensorflow/python/framework/tensor_util_test.py
index 0a73abde15a..47a1335374f 100644
--- a/tensorflow/python/framework/tensor_util_test.py
+++ b/tensorflow/python/framework/tensor_util_test.py
@@ -376,6 +376,34 @@ class TensorUtilTest(tf.test.TestCase):
     self.assertEquals(np.object, a.dtype)
     self.assertAllEqual(np.array([[b"a", b"ab"], [b"abc", b"abcd"]]), a)
 
+  def testStringTuple(self):
+    t = tensor_util.make_tensor_proto((b"a", b"ab", b"abc", b"abcd"))
+    self.assertProtoEquals("""
+      dtype: DT_STRING
+      tensor_shape { dim { size: 4 } }
+      string_val: "a"
+      string_val: "ab"
+      string_val: "abc"
+      string_val: "abcd"
+      """, t)
+    a = tensor_util.MakeNdarray(t)
+    self.assertEquals(np.object, a.dtype)
+    self.assertAllEqual(np.array((b"a", b"ab", b"abc", b"abcd")), a)
+
+  def testStringNestedTuple(self):
+    t = tensor_util.make_tensor_proto(((b"a", b"ab"), (b"abc", b"abcd")))
+    self.assertProtoEquals("""
+      dtype: DT_STRING
+      tensor_shape { dim { size: 2 } dim { size: 2 } }
+      string_val: "a"
+      string_val: "ab"
+      string_val: "abc"
+      string_val: "abcd"
+      """, t)
+    a = tensor_util.MakeNdarray(t)
+    self.assertEquals(np.object, a.dtype)
+    self.assertAllEqual(np.array(((b"a", b"ab"), (b"abc", b"abcd"))), a)
+
   def testComplex64(self):
     t = tensor_util.make_tensor_proto((1+2j), dtype=tf.complex64)
     self.assertProtoEquals("""