diff --git a/sdk/ai/azure-ai-projects/tests/samples/sample_executor.py b/sdk/ai/azure-ai-projects/tests/samples/sample_executor.py
index a15b9b72b31d..46f62c506efc 100644
--- a/sdk/ai/azure-ai-projects/tests/samples/sample_executor.py
+++ b/sdk/ai/azure-ai-projects/tests/samples/sample_executor.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ def __init__(
             if not isinstance(test_var, str):
                 continue
             value = kwargs.pop(test_var, None)
-            if value is not None:
+            if value is not None and isinstance(value, str):
                 self.env_vars[sample_var] = value
 
         # Any remaining ALL_CAPS string kwargs are treated as env vars for the sample.