diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/encoder_shellvariables.go b/pkg/yqlib/encoder_shellvariables.go
index 39236703..769252ba 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/encoder_shellvariables.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/encoder_shellvariables.go
@@ -57,7 +57,13 @@ func (pe *shellVariablesEncoder) doEncode(w *io.Writer, node *CandidateNode, pat
 			// let's just pick a fallback key to use if we are encoding a single scalar
 			nonemptyPath = "value"
 		}
-		_, err := io.WriteString(*w, nonemptyPath+"="+quoteValue(node.Value)+"\n")
+		var valueString string
+		if pe.prefs.UnwrapScalar {
+			valueString = node.Value
+		} else {
+			valueString = quoteValue(node.Value)
+		}
+		_, err := io.WriteString(*w, nonemptyPath+"="+valueString+"\n")
 		return err
 	case SequenceNode:
 		for index, child := range node.Content {