diff --git a/packages/mondo/mondo.mjs b/packages/mondo/mondo.mjs
index be7b2a203..626793d8e 100644
--- a/packages/mondo/mondo.mjs
+++ b/packages/mondo/mondo.mjs
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ export class MondoRunner {
       ast.value = Number(ast.value);
     } else if (['quotes_double', 'quotes_single'].includes(ast.type)) {
       ast.value = ast.value.slice(1, -1);
-      ast.type = 'plain'; // is this problematic?
+      ast.type = 'string';
     }
     return this.evaluator(ast, scope);
   }