diff --git a/src/firewall/core/io/ifcfg.py b/src/firewall/core/io/ifcfg.py
index 0fecee74c..324f18e3c 100644
--- a/src/firewall/core/io/ifcfg.py
+++ b/src/firewall/core/io/ifcfg.py
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@ def read(self):
             pair = [ x.strip() for x in line.split("=", 1) ]
             if len(pair) != 2:
                 continue
-            elif pair[1] == '':
+            if len(pair[1]) >= 2 and \
+               pair[1].startswith('"') and pair[1].endswith('"'):
+                pair[1] = pair[1][1:-1]
+            if pair[1] == '':
                 continue
             elif self._config.get(pair[0]) is not None:
                 log.warning("%s: Duplicate option definition: '%s'", self.filename, line.strip())
@@ -142,6 +145,9 @@ def write(self):
                         continue
                     key = p[0].strip()
                     value = p[1].strip()
+                    if len(value) >= 2 and \
+                       value.startswith('"') and value.endswith('"'):
+                        value = value[1:-1]
                     # check for modified key/value pairs
                     if key not in done:
                         if key in self._config and self._config[key] != value: