diff --git a/jose/jws.py b/jose/jws.py
index 56f94a55..dc6ad5c5 100644
--- a/jose/jws.py
+++ b/jose/jws.py
@@ -222,8 +222,8 @@ def _get_keys(key):
     elif (isinstance(key, Iterable) and
           not (isinstance(key, six.string_types) or isinstance(key, Mapping))):
         return key
-    else:  # Scalar value, wrap in list.
-        return [key]
+    else:  # Scalar value, wrap in tuple.
+        return (key,)
 
 
 def _verify_signature(signing_input, header, signature, key='', algorithms=None):
diff --git a/jose/jwt.py b/jose/jwt.py
index 4479901a..2128c851 100644
--- a/jose/jwt.py
+++ b/jose/jwt.py
@@ -72,9 +72,9 @@ def decode(token, key, algorithms=None, options=None, audience=None,
         audience (str): The intended audience of the token.  If the "aud" claim is
             included in the claim set, then the audience must be included and must equal
             the provided claim.
-        issuer (str): The issuer of the token.  If the "iss" claim is
-            included in the claim set, then the issuer must be included and must equal
-            the provided claim.
+        issuer (str or iterable): Acceptable value(s) for the issuer of the token.
+            If the "iss" claim is included in the claim set, then the issuer must be
+            given and the claim in the token must be among the acceptable values.
         subject (str): The subject of the token.  If the "sub" claim is
             included in the claim set, then the subject must be included and must equal
             the provided claim.
@@ -345,11 +345,14 @@ def _validate_iss(claims, issuer=None):
 
     Args:
         claims (dict): The claims dictionary to validate.
-        issuer (str): The issuer that sent the token.
+        issuer (str or iterable): Acceptable value(s) for the issuer that
+                                  signed the token.
     """
 
     if issuer is not None:
-        if claims.get('iss') != issuer:
+        if isinstance(issuer, string_types):
+            issuer = (issuer,)
+        if claims.get('iss') not in issuer:
             raise JWTClaimsError('Invalid issuer')
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_jws.py b/tests/test_jws.py
index 2f914c41..a57c7f4d 100644
--- a/tests/test_jws.py
+++ b/tests/test_jws.py
@@ -201,13 +201,13 @@ def jwk_set():
 class TestGetKeys(object):
 
     def test_dict(self):
-        assert [{}] == jws._get_keys({})
+        assert ({},) == jws._get_keys({})
 
     def test_custom_object(self):
         class MyDict(dict):
             pass
         mydict = MyDict()
-        assert [mydict] == jws._get_keys(mydict)
+        assert (mydict,) == jws._get_keys(mydict)
 
     def test_RFC7517_string(self):
         key = '{"keys": [{}, {}]}'
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def test_RFC7517_mapping(self):
         assert [{}, {}] == jws._get_keys(key)
 
     def test_string(self):
-        assert ['test'] == jws._get_keys('test')
+        assert ('test',) == jws._get_keys('test')
 
     def test_tuple(self):
         assert ('test', 'key') == jws._get_keys(('test', 'key'))
diff --git a/tests/test_jwt.py b/tests/test_jwt.py
index 710351c0..485fff52 100644
--- a/tests/test_jwt.py
+++ b/tests/test_jwt.py
@@ -347,6 +347,28 @@ def test_iss_string(self, key):
         token = jwt.encode(claims, key)
         jwt.decode(token, key, issuer=iss)
 
+    def test_iss_list(self, key):
+
+        iss = 'issuer'
+
+        claims = {
+            'iss': iss
+        }
+
+        token = jwt.encode(claims, key)
+        jwt.decode(token, key, issuer=['https://issuer', 'issuer'])
+
+    def test_iss_tuple(self, key):
+
+        iss = 'issuer'
+
+        claims = {
+            'iss': iss
+        }
+
+        token = jwt.encode(claims, key)
+        jwt.decode(token, key, issuer=('https://issuer', 'issuer'))
+
     def test_iss_invalid(self, key):
 
         iss = 'issuer'