diff --git a/tensorflow/python/ops/image_ops_impl.py b/tensorflow/python/ops/image_ops_impl.py
index 6aeb6f40f1c..c2ebb870f2c 100644
--- a/tensorflow/python/ops/image_ops_impl.py
+++ b/tensorflow/python/ops/image_ops_impl.py
@@ -3060,12 +3060,11 @@ def ssim_multiscale(img1, img2, max_val, power_factors=_MSSSIM_WEIGHTS):
     are in range [0, 1].  Returns a tensor with shape:
     broadcast(img1.shape[:-3], img2.shape[:-3]).
   """
-  # Shape checking.
-  shape1 = img1.get_shape().with_rank_at_least(3)
-  shape2 = img2.get_shape().with_rank_at_least(3)
-  shape1[-3:].merge_with(shape2[-3:])
-
   with ops.name_scope(None, 'MS-SSIM', [img1, img2]):
+    # Convert to tensor if needed.
+    img1 = ops.convert_to_tensor(img1, name='img1')
+    img2 = ops.convert_to_tensor(img2, name='img2')
+    # Shape checking.
     shape1, shape2, checks = _verify_compatible_image_shapes(img1, img2)
     with ops.control_dependencies(checks):
       img1 = array_ops.identity(img1)