diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/console.py b/lib/ansible/cli/console.py
index 9e9d93ee53..bec0c92952 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/console.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/console.py
@@ -126,9 +126,10 @@ class ConsoleCLI(CLI, cmd.Cmd):
 
     def list_modules(self):
         modules = set()
-        if self.options.module_path is not None:
-            for i in self.options.module_path.split(os.pathsep):
-                module_loader.add_directory(i)
+        if self.options.module_path:
+            for path in self.options.module_path:
+                if path:
+                    module_loader.add_directory(path)
 
         module_paths = module_loader._get_paths()
         for path in module_paths:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/doc.py b/lib/ansible/cli/doc.py
index 747618da8f..407904b74c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/doc.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/doc.py
@@ -103,9 +103,10 @@ class DocCLI(CLI):
             loader = module_loader
 
         # add to plugin path from command line
-        if self.options.module_path is not None:
-            for i in self.options.module_path.split(os.pathsep):
-                loader.add_directory(i)
+        if self.options.module_path:
+            for path in self.options.module_path:
+                if path:
+                    loader.add_directory(path)
 
         # save only top level paths for errors
         search_paths = DocCLI.print_paths(loader)