diff --git a/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js b/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
index 48ed769fa..db79294a4 100755
--- a/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
@@ -153,7 +153,12 @@ if (parsedArgs.define) {
             var match = /^(([^=]+)=(.+)|@(.*))$/.exec(def);
             if (match) {
                 if (!match[4]) {
-                    var val = JSON.parse(match[3]);
+                    var val = match[3];
+                    try {
+                        val = JSON.parse(match[3]);
+                    } catch(err) {
+                        // Leave it as a string
+                    }
                     RED.util.setObjectProperty(settings, match[2], val, true);
                 } else {
                     var obj = fs.readJsonSync(match[4]);