diff --git a/python/nnvm/compiler/build_module.py b/python/nnvm/compiler/build_module.py
index 3080baf1d..460cc1c75 100644
--- a/python/nnvm/compiler/build_module.py
+++ b/python/nnvm/compiler/build_module.py
@@ -123,6 +123,18 @@ def _build(funcs, target, target_host):
     return tvm.build(funcs, target=target, target_host=target_host)
 
 
+def _check_shape_type(shape):
+    """Check whether the input shape has an appropriate type."""
+    if not isinstance(shape, dict):
+        raise TypeError("require shape to be dict")
+
+    for key, value in shape.items():
+        if not isinstance(key, basestring):
+            raise TypeError("shape key must be str")
+        if not all(isinstance(x, int) for x in value):
+            raise TypeError("shape value must be int iterator")
+
+
 def _update_shape_dtype(shape, dtype, params):
     """Update shape dtype given params information"""
     if not params:
@@ -239,8 +251,8 @@ def build(graph, target=None, shape=None, dtype="float32",
     target = tvm.target.create(target)
 
     shape = shape if shape else {}
-    if not isinstance(shape, dict):
-        raise TypeError("require shape to be dict")
+    _check_shape_type(shape)
+
     cfg = BuildConfig.current
     graph = graph if isinstance(graph, _graph.Graph) else _graph.create(graph)
     shape, dtype = _update_shape_dtype(shape, dtype, params)