diff --git a/apps/openmw/main.cpp b/apps/openmw/main.cpp
index 9e44f237e..ac891b980 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/main.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/main.cpp
@@ -194,6 +194,9 @@ bool parseOptions (int argc, char** argv, OMW::Engine& engine, Files::Configurat
     std::string local(variables["data-local"].as<Files::EscapeHashString>().toStdString());
     if (!local.empty())
     {
+        if (local.front() == '\"')
+            local = local.substr(1, local.length() - 2);
+
         dataDirs.push_back(Files::PathContainer::value_type(local));
     }