diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/transpiler/memory_optimization_transpiler.py b/python/paddle/fluid/transpiler/memory_optimization_transpiler.py
index 95aafec05361a8b66b849268c7a738bb2ee5da86..5a7d04ed19437757bda6e0657ab45a320712ce86 100755
--- a/python/paddle/fluid/transpiler/memory_optimization_transpiler.py
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/transpiler/memory_optimization_transpiler.py
@@ -484,8 +484,11 @@ def memory_optimize(input_program,
 
     if level != 0 and level != 1:
         raise ValueError("only support opt_level 0 or 1.")
-    if skip_opt_set is not None and not isinstance(skip_opt_set, set):
-        raise ValueError("only support skip_opt_set as set.")
+    if skip_opt_set is not None:
+        if isinstance(skip_opt_set, set) or isinstance(skip_opt_set, list):
+            skip_opt_set = set(skip_opt_set)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("only support skip_opt_set as set.")
     global PRINT_LOG
     PRINT_LOG = print_log
     if skip_grads: