diff --git a/homeassistant/components/broadlink/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/broadlink/__init__.py
index 3404bdef99b..a1cc0a0caa3 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/broadlink/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/broadlink/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import asyncio
 from base64 import b64decode, b64encode
 import logging
-import re
 import socket
 
 from datetime import timedelta
@@ -19,26 +18,22 @@ _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 DEFAULT_RETRY = 3
 
 
-def ipv4_address(value):
-    """Validate an ipv4 address."""
-    regex = re.compile(r'^\d+\.\d+\.\d+\.\d+$')
-    if not regex.match(value):
-        raise vol.Invalid('Invalid Ipv4 address, expected a.b.c.d')
-    return value
-
-
 def data_packet(value):
     """Decode a data packet given for broadlink."""
-    return b64decode(cv.string(value))
+    value = cv.string(value)
+    extra = len(value) % 4
+    if extra > 0:
+        value = value + ('=' * (4 - extra))
+    return b64decode(value)
 
 
 SERVICE_SEND_SCHEMA = vol.Schema({
-    vol.Required(CONF_HOST): ipv4_address,
+    vol.Required(CONF_HOST): cv.string,
     vol.Required(CONF_PACKET): vol.All(cv.ensure_list, [data_packet])
 })
 
 SERVICE_LEARN_SCHEMA = vol.Schema({
-    vol.Required(CONF_HOST): ipv4_address,
+    vol.Required(CONF_HOST): cv.string,
 })
 
 
diff --git a/tests/components/broadlink/test_init.py b/tests/components/broadlink/test_init.py
index 5dca559cb0e..44ae3d7612a 100644
--- a/tests/components/broadlink/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/components/broadlink/test_init.py
@@ -4,10 +4,9 @@ from base64 import b64decode
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch, call
 
 import pytest
-import voluptuous as vol
 
 from homeassistant.util.dt import utcnow
-from homeassistant.components.broadlink import async_setup_service
+from homeassistant.components.broadlink import async_setup_service, data_packet
 from homeassistant.components.broadlink.const import (
     DOMAIN, SERVICE_LEARN, SERVICE_SEND)
 
@@ -26,6 +25,13 @@ def dummy_broadlink():
         yield broadlink
 
 
+async def test_padding(hass):
+    """Verify that non padding strings are allowed."""
+    assert data_packet('Jg') == b'&'
+    assert data_packet('Jg=') == b'&'
+    assert data_packet('Jg==') == b'&'
+
+
 async def test_send(hass):
     """Test send service."""
     mock_device = MagicMock()
@@ -100,18 +106,3 @@ async def test_learn_timeout(hass):
         assert mock_create.call_args == call(
             "No signal was received",
             title='Broadlink switch')
-
-
-async def test_ipv4():
-    """Test ipv4 parsing."""
-    from homeassistant.components.broadlink import ipv4_address
-
-    schema = vol.Schema(ipv4_address)
-
-    for value in ('invalid', '1', '192', '192.168',
-                  '192.168.0', '192.168.0.A'):
-        with pytest.raises(vol.MultipleInvalid):
-            schema(value)
-
-    for value in ('192.168.0.1', '10.0.0.1'):
-        schema(value)