diff --git a/etc/bird/calico-bird-peer.conf.template b/etc/bird/calico-bird-peer.conf.template
index 26df474d8a5..77082b58ca6 100644
--- a/etc/bird/calico-bird-peer.conf.template
+++ b/etc/bird/calico-bird-peer.conf.template
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 # Peer with route reflector.
-protocol bgp @ID@ {
+protocol bgp '@ID@' {
   description "@DESCRIPTION@";
   local as @AS_NUMBER@;
   neighbor @PEER_IP_ADDRESS@ as @AS_NUMBER@;