diff --git a/modules/programs/alot.nix b/modules/programs/alot.nix
index c61784aea..84175f99c 100644
--- a/modules/programs/alot.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/alot.nix
@@ -96,10 +96,10 @@ let
           sendmail_command = optionalString (alot.sendMailCommand != null) alot.sendMailCommand;
         }
         // optionalAttrs (folders.sent != null) {
-          sent_box = "maildir" + "://" + maildir.absPath + "/" + folders.sent;
+          sent_box = "'maildir" + "://" + maildir.absPath + "/" + folders.sent + "'";
         }
         // optionalAttrs (folders.drafts != null) {
-          draft_box = "maildir" + "://" + maildir.absPath + "/" + folders.drafts;
+          draft_box = "'maildir" + "://" + maildir.absPath + "/" + folders.drafts + "'";
         }
         // optionalAttrs (aliases != [ ]) {
           aliases = concatStringsSep "," aliases;
diff --git a/tests/modules/programs/alot/alot-expected.conf b/tests/modules/programs/alot/alot-expected.conf
index 6d3ace4a3..5b16d3b83 100644
--- a/tests/modules/programs/alot/alot-expected.conf
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/alot/alot-expected.conf
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ prefer_plaintext = True
 
 [[hm@example.com]]
 address=hm@example.com
-draft_box=maildir:///home/hm-user/Mail/hm@example.com/Drafts
+draft_box='maildir:///home/hm-user/Mail/hm@example.com/Drafts'
 realname=H. M. Test
 sendmail_command=
-sent_box=maildir:///home/hm-user/Mail/hm@example.com/Sent
+sent_box='maildir:///home/hm-user/Mail/hm@example.com/Sent'
 auto_remove_unread = True
 ask_subject = False
 handle_mouse = True