diff --git a/sphinxcontrib/openapi/openapi30.py b/sphinxcontrib/openapi/openapi30.py
index 3b47277..6ef3ce9e 100644
--- a/sphinxcontrib/openapi/openapi30.py
+++ b/sphinxcontrib/openapi/openapi30.py
@@ -304,8 +304,14 @@ def _httpresource(endpoint, method, properties, convert, render_examples,
         request_content = properties.get('requestBody', {}).get('content', {})
         if request_content and 'application/json' in request_content:
             schema = request_content['application/json']['schema']
-            req_properties = json.dumps(schema['properties'], indent=2,
-                                        separators=(',', ':'))
+            if schema['type'] == 'object':
+                # if it's an object, focus on the properties of that object
+                req_properties = json.dumps(schema['properties'], indent=2,
+                                            separators=(',', ':'))
+            else:
+                # if it's another type, dump the whole thing
+                req_properties = json.dumps(schema, indent=2,
+                                            separators=(',', ':'))
             yield '{indent}**Request body:**'.format(**locals())
             yield ''
             yield '{indent}.. sourcecode:: json'.format(**locals())
diff --git a/tests/test_openapi.py b/tests/test_openapi.py
index d254572..d8fdfe4 100644
--- a/tests/test_openapi.py
+++ b/tests/test_openapi.py
@@ -1693,6 +1693,33 @@ def test_method_option(self):
                   ok
         ''').lstrip()
 
+    def test_request_body_non_object(self):
+        renderer = renderers.HttpdomainOldRenderer(None, {'request': True})
+        text = '\n'.join(renderer.render_restructuredtext_markup({
+            'openapi': '3.0.0',
+            'paths': {
+                '/things': {
+                    'post': {
+                        'summary': 'Create Thing',
+                        'requestBody': {
+                            'content': {
+                                'application/json': {
+                                    'schema': {'type': 'string'},
+                                },
+                            },
+                        },
+                        'responses': {
+                            '200': {
+                                'description': 'A thing created.',
+                            },
+                        },
+                    },
+                },
+            },
+        }))
+        assert '   **Request body:**' in text
+        assert '"type":"string"' in text
+
 
 class TestResolveRefs(object):