diff --git a/CRM/Utils/Type.php b/CRM/Utils/Type.php
index 0d626c159fea..ed8a050f0f57 100644
--- a/CRM/Utils/Type.php
+++ b/CRM/Utils/Type.php
@@ -419,7 +419,10 @@ public static function validate($data, $type, $abort = TRUE, $name = 'One of par
       case 'Blob':
       case 'Link':
       case 'Memo':
-        return $data;
+        if (CRM_Utils_Rule::string($data)) {
+          return $data;
+        }
+        break;
 
       case 'Date':
       case 'Timestamp':