diff --git a/deluge/ui/console/commands/config.py b/deluge/ui/console/commands/config.py
index 3c9ddb921..b72092c5f 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/console/commands/config.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/console/commands/config.py
@@ -67,7 +67,10 @@ def atom(next, token):
             else:
                 return int(token[1], 0)
         except ValueError:
-            return float(token[-1])
+            try:
+                return float(token[-1])
+            except ValueError:
+                return str(token[-1])
     elif token[1].lower() == 'true':
         return True
     elif token[1].lower() == 'false':