diff --git a/lib/mu-str.c b/lib/mu-str.c
index 22043f71..fdb58178 100644
--- a/lib/mu-str.c
+++ b/lib/mu-str.c
@@ -557,7 +557,6 @@ read_val (const char *str, const char **endval, GError **err)
 			}
 		} else if (*cur == '"') {
 			quoted = !quoted;
-			g_string_append_c (gstr, *cur);
 			continue;
 		} else if (isblank(*cur) && !quoted)
 			break;
diff --git a/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el b/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el
index afbd4571..2b7c2605 100644
--- a/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el
+++ b/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ The server output is as follows:
 existing quotation. In particular, backslashes and
 double-quotes."
   (let ((esc (replace-regexp-in-string "\\\\" "\\\\\\\\" str)))
-    (format "%s" (replace-regexp-in-string "\"" "\\\\\"" esc))))
+    (format "\"%s\"" (replace-regexp-in-string "\"" "\\\\\"" esc))))
 
 
 (defun mu4e~proc-send-command (frm &rest args)