diff --git a/homeassistant/components/device_tracker/owntracks.py b/homeassistant/components/device_tracker/owntracks.py
index 9ef227909e1..505fd6b7ad2 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/device_tracker/owntracks.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/device_tracker/owntracks.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def setup_scanner(hass, config, see):
                 'Unable to parse payload as JSON: %s', payload)
             return
 
-        if data.get('_type') != 'location':
+        if not isinstance(data, dict) or data.get('_type') != 'location':
             return
 
         parts = topic.split('/')