diff --git a/pandas/core/series.py b/pandas/core/series.py
index e3b401cd3c88b..0080eb13f1703 100644
--- a/pandas/core/series.py
+++ b/pandas/core/series.py
@@ -3102,6 +3102,9 @@ def diff(self, periods: int = 1) -> Series:
         --------
         {examples}
         """
+        if not isinstance(periods, int):
+            raise ValueError("periods must be an integer")
+        
         result = algorithms.diff(self._values, periods)
         return self._constructor(result, index=self.index, copy=False).__finalize__(
             self, method="diff"