diff --git a/doc/api/next_api_changes/deprecations/25196-EP.rst b/doc/api/next_api_changes/deprecations/25196-EP.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..99f55401976d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/api/next_api_changes/deprecations/25196-EP.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+``Line2D``
+~~~~~~~~~~
+When creating a Line2D or using `.Line2D.set_xdata` and `.Line2D.set_ydata`,
+passing x/y data as non sequence is deprecated.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/lines.py b/lib/matplotlib/lines.py
index f843ccd49fee..db0ce3ba0cea 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/lines.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/lines.py
@@ -1275,7 +1275,14 @@ def set_xdata(self, x):
         x : 1D array
         """
         if not np.iterable(x):
-            raise RuntimeError('x must be a sequence')
+            # When deprecation cycle is completed
+            # raise RuntimeError('x must be a sequence')
+            _api.warn_deprecated(
+                since=3.7,
+                message="Setting data with a non sequence type "
+                "is deprecated since %(since)s and will be "
+                "remove %(removal)s")
+            x = [x, ]
         self._xorig = copy.copy(x)
         self._invalidx = True
         self.stale = True
@@ -1289,7 +1296,14 @@ def set_ydata(self, y):
         y : 1D array
         """
         if not np.iterable(y):
-            raise RuntimeError('y must be a sequence')
+            # When deprecation cycle is completed
+            # raise RuntimeError('y must be a sequence')
+            _api.warn_deprecated(
+                since=3.7,
+                message="Setting data with a non sequence type "
+                "is deprecated since %(since)s and will be "
+                "remove %(removal)s")
+            y = [y, ]
         self._yorig = copy.copy(y)
         self._invalidy = True
         self.stale = True
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_lines.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_lines.py
index 1f25b84d8081..7eecf5675a4b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_lines.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_lines.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import matplotlib.transforms as mtransforms
 from matplotlib.testing.decorators import image_comparison, check_figures_equal
+from matplotlib._api.deprecation import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning
 
 
 def test_segment_hits():
@@ -91,9 +92,12 @@ def test_invalid_line_data():
         mlines.Line2D([], 1)
 
     line = mlines.Line2D([], [])
-    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match='x must be'):
+    # when deprecation cycle is completed
+    # with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match='x must be'):
+    with pytest.warns(MatplotlibDeprecationWarning):
         line.set_xdata(0)
-    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match='y must be'):
+    # with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match='y must be'):
+    with pytest.warns(MatplotlibDeprecationWarning):
         line.set_ydata(0)