diff --git a/ceilometerclient/tests/v2/test_statistics.py b/ceilometerclient/tests/v2/test_statistics.py
index 68a26726..6caedf25 100644
--- a/ceilometerclient/tests/v2/test_statistics.py
+++ b/ceilometerclient/tests/v2/test_statistics.py
@@ -179,6 +179,26 @@ class StatisticsManagerTest(utils.BaseTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(stats[0].groupby.get('resource_id'), 'foo')
         self.assertEqual(stats[1].groupby.get('resource_id'), 'bar')
 
+    def test_list_by_meter_name_with_groupby_as_str(self):
+        stats = list(self.mgr.list(meter_name='instance',
+                                   q=[
+                                       {"field": "resource_id",
+                                        "value": "foo"},
+                                       {"field": "source",
+                                        "value": "bar"},
+                                   ],
+                                   groupby='resource_id'))
+        expect = [
+            ('GET',
+             '%s?%s%s' % (base_url, qry, groupby), {}, None),
+        ]
+        self.assertEqual(expect, self.api.calls)
+        self.assertEqual(2, len(stats))
+        self.assertEqual(135, stats[0].count)
+        self.assertEqual(12, stats[1].count)
+        self.assertEqual('foo', stats[0].groupby.get('resource_id'))
+        self.assertEqual('bar', stats[1].groupby.get('resource_id'))
+
     def test_list_by_meter_name_with_aggregates(self):
         aggregates = [
             {
diff --git a/ceilometerclient/v2/statistics.py b/ceilometerclient/v2/statistics.py
index 689992c6..0d6a6d75 100644
--- a/ceilometerclient/v2/statistics.py
+++ b/ceilometerclient/v2/statistics.py
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
+import six
+
 from ceilometerclient.common import base
 from ceilometerclient.v2 import options
 
@@ -37,6 +39,8 @@ class StatisticsManager(base.Manager):
 
     def list(self, meter_name, q=None, period=None, groupby=[], aggregates=[]):
         p = ['period=%s' % period] if period else []
+        if isinstance(groupby, six.string_types):
+            groupby = [groupby]
         p.extend(['groupby=%s' % g for g in groupby] if groupby else [])
         p.extend(self._build_aggregates(aggregates))
         return self._list(options.build_url(