diff --git a/discord/ext/commands/cog.py b/discord/ext/commands/cog.py
index 217f63887..a51173b94 100644
--- a/discord/ext/commands/cog.py
+++ b/discord/ext/commands/cog.py
@@ -203,9 +203,13 @@ class Cog(metaclass=CogMeta):
         Raises
         --------
         TypeError
-            The function is not a coroutine function.
+            The function is not a coroutine function or a string was not passed as
+            the name.
         """
 
+        if name is not None and not isinstance(name, str):
+            raise TypeError('Cog.listener expected str but received {0.__class__.__name__!r} instead.'.format(name))
+
         def decorator(func):
             if not inspect.iscoroutinefunction(func):
                 raise TypeError('Listener function must be a coroutine function.')