diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/table.py b/lib/matplotlib/table.py
index 0a2121a127df..bca7b50f54ab 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/table.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/table.py
@@ -205,13 +205,12 @@ def visible_edges(self, value):
         elif value in self._edge_aliases:
             self._visible_edges = self._edge_aliases[value]
         else:
-            for edge in value:
-                if edge not in self._edges:
-                    raise ValueError('Invalid edge param {}, must only be one '
-                                     'of {} or string of {}'.format(
-                                         value,
-                                         ", ".join(self._edge_aliases),
-                                         ", ".join(self._edges)))
+            if any(edge not in self._edges for edge in value):
+                raise ValueError('Invalid edge param {}, must only be one of '
+                                 '{} or string of {}'.format(
+                                     value,
+                                     ", ".join(self._edge_aliases),
+                                     ", ".join(self._edges)))
             self._visible_edges = value
         self.stale = True