diff --git a/src/LyXRC.cpp b/src/LyXRC.cpp
index ed9b1e594b..98ec1a40ea 100644
--- a/src/LyXRC.cpp
+++ b/src/LyXRC.cpp
@@ -1706,7 +1706,7 @@ void LyXRC::write(ostream & os, bool ignore_system_lyxrc, string const & name) c
 		if (ignore_system_lyxrc ||
 			color_scheme != system_lyxrc.color_scheme) {
 			os << "# Set color scheme (system|light|dark)\n";
-			os << "\\color_scheme " << color_scheme << '\n';
+			os << "\\color_scheme \"" << color_scheme << "\"\n";
 		}
 		if (tag != RC_LAST)
 			break;