diff --git a/src/etc/inc/system.inc b/src/etc/inc/system.inc
index a12b38749..63c4175fc 100644
--- a/src/etc/inc/system.inc
+++ b/src/etc/inc/system.inc
@@ -1715,7 +1715,7 @@ function system_login_configure($verbose = false)
     $new_boot_config['comconsole_speed'] = null;
     $new_boot_config['boot_multicons'] = null;
     $new_boot_config['boot_serial'] = null;
-    $new_boot_config['kern.vty'] = 'vt';
+    $new_boot_config['kern.vty'] = '"vt"';
     $new_boot_config['console'] = null;
 
     $console_types = system_console_types();
@@ -1752,7 +1752,7 @@ function system_login_configure($verbose = false)
     }
 
     if (empty($config['system']['usevirtualterminal'])) {
-        $new_boot_config['kern.vty'] = 'sc';
+        $new_boot_config['kern.vty'] = '"sc"';
     }
 
     /* reload static values from rc.loader.d */