diff --git a/python/helpers/pydev/_pydev_bundle/pydev_monkey.py b/python/helpers/pydev/_pydev_bundle/pydev_monkey.py
index 36230e5e798d..f19d9d2ecef2 100644
--- a/python/helpers/pydev/_pydev_bundle/pydev_monkey.py
+++ b/python/helpers/pydev/_pydev_bundle/pydev_monkey.py
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ def is_python(path):
 def remove_quotes_from_args(args):
     new_args = []
     for x in args:
-        if x.startswith('"') and x.endswith('"'):
-            x = x.strip('"')
+        if len(x) > 1 and x.startswith('"') and x.endswith('"'):
+            x = x[1:-1]
         new_args.append(x)
     return new_args