diff --git a/django/core/mail.py b/django/core/mail.py
index 77ab8007e65..e408393d96f 100644
--- a/django/core/mail.py
+++ b/django/core/mail.py
@@ -209,8 +209,14 @@ class EmailMessage(object):
         bytestrings). The SafeMIMEText class will handle any necessary encoding
         conversions.
         """
-        self.to = to or []
-        self.bcc = bcc or []
+        if to:
+            self.to = list(to)
+        else:
+            self.to = []
+        if bcc:
+            self.bcc = list(bcc)
+        else:
+            self.bcc = []
         self.from_email = from_email or settings.DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL
         self.subject = subject
         self.body = body