diff --git a/django/db/models/query.py b/django/db/models/query.py
index 45c0320254..b1bebcaca0 100644
--- a/django/db/models/query.py
+++ b/django/db/models/query.py
@@ -1171,7 +1171,7 @@ class QuerySet(object):
 
 class InstanceCheckMeta(type):
     def __instancecheck__(self, instance):
-        return instance.query.is_empty()
+        return isinstance(instance, QuerySet) and instance.query.is_empty()
 
 
 class EmptyQuerySet(six.with_metaclass(InstanceCheckMeta)):
diff --git a/tests/basic/tests.py b/tests/basic/tests.py
index c67f78926f..c334a8bfc6 100644
--- a/tests/basic/tests.py
+++ b/tests/basic/tests.py
@@ -367,6 +367,7 @@ class ModelTest(TestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
             EmptyQuerySet()
         self.assertIsInstance(Article.objects.none(), EmptyQuerySet)
+        self.assertFalse(isinstance('', EmptyQuerySet))
 
     def test_emptyqs_values(self):
         # test for #15959