def ensure_timezone(func, argname, arg):
    """Argument preprocessor that converts the input into a tzinfo object.

    Examples
    --------
    >>> from zipline.utils.preprocess import preprocess
    >>> @preprocess(tz=ensure_timezone)
    ... def foo(tz):
    ...     return tz
    >>> foo('utc')
    <UTC>
    """
    if isinstance(arg, tzinfo):
        return arg
    if isinstance(arg, string_types):
        return timezone(arg)

    raise TypeError(
        "{func}() couldn't convert argument "
        "{argname}={arg!r} to a timezone.".format(
            func=_qualified_name(func),
            argname=argname,
            arg=arg,
        ),
    )