diff --git a/src/dlite-json.c b/src/dlite-json.c
index 77dcd6a06..a7ea61a06 100644
--- a/src/dlite-json.c
+++ b/src/dlite-json.c
@@ -161,8 +161,22 @@ int _dlite_json_sprint(char *dest, size_t size, const DLiteInstance *inst,
     if (dlite_instance_get_property((DLiteInstance *)inst->meta, "relations")) {
       PRINT1("%s  \"relations\": [\n", in);
       for (i=0; i < met->_nrelations; i++) {
+        int m;
         DLiteRelation *r = met->_relations + i;
-        PRINT4("%s    [\"%s\", \"%s\", \"%s\"]\n", in, r->s, r->p, r->o);
+        PRINT1("%s    [", in);
+        m = strquote(dest+n, PDIFF(size, n), r->s);
+        if (m < 0) goto fail;
+        n += m;
+        PRINT(", ");
+        m = strquote(dest+n, PDIFF(size, n), r->p);
+        if (m < 0) goto fail;
+        n += m;
+        PRINT(", ");
+        m = strquote(dest+n, PDIFF(size, n), r->o);
+        if (m < 0) goto fail;
+        n += m;
+        PRINT("]\n");
+
       }
       PRINT2("%s  ]%s\n", in, prop_comma);
     }
@@ -212,8 +226,21 @@ int _dlite_json_sprint(char *dest, size_t size, const DLiteInstance *inst,
     if (dlite_instance_get_property((DLiteInstance *)inst->meta, "relations")) {
       PRINT1("%s  \"relations\": [\n", in);
       for (i=0; i < met->_nrelations; i++) {
+        int m;
         DLiteRelation *r = met->_relations + i;
-        PRINT4("%s    [\"%s\", \"%s\", \"%s\"]\n", in, r->s, r->p, r->o);
+        PRINT1("%s    [", in);
+        m = strquote(dest+n, PDIFF(size, n), r->s);
+        if (m < 0) goto fail;
+        n += m;
+        PRINT(", ");
+        m = strquote(dest+n, PDIFF(size, n), r->p);
+        if (m < 0) goto fail;
+        n += m;
+        PRINT(", ");
+        m = strquote(dest+n, PDIFF(size, n), r->o);
+        if (m < 0) goto fail;
+        n += m;
+        PRINT("]\n");
       }
       PRINT2("%s  ]%s\n", in, prop_comma);
     }
diff --git a/src/dlite-type.c b/src/dlite-type.c
index a68b7b21f..a8b72e8b0 100644
--- a/src/dlite-type.c
+++ b/src/dlite-type.c
@@ -862,7 +862,13 @@ int dlite_type_print(char *dest, size_t n, const void *p, DLiteType dtype,
   case dliteRelation:
     {
       DLiteRelation *r = (DLiteRelation *)p;
-      m = snprintf(dest, n, "[\"%s\", \"%s\", \"%s\"]", r->s, r->p, r->o);
+      m = snprintf(dest, n, "[");
+      m += strquote(dest+m, PDIFF(n, m), r->s);
+      m += snprintf(dest+m, PDIFF(n, m), ", ");
+      m += strquote(dest+m, PDIFF(n, m), r->p);
+      m += snprintf(dest+m, PDIFF(n, m), ", ");
+      m += strquote(dest+m, PDIFF(n, m), r->o);
+      m += snprintf(dest+m, PDIFF(n, m), "]");
     }
     break;
   }
@@ -916,6 +922,15 @@ int dlite_type_aprint(char **dest, size_t *n, size_t pos, const void *p,
 #define MAX_PROPERTY_TOKENS  64  // this supports at least 50 dimensions...
 #define MAX_RELATION_TOKENS   9
 
+/* Macro used by dlite_type_scan() to asign `target` when scanning a
+   relation. */
+#define SET_RELATION(target, buf, bufsize, t, src)                      \
+  if (strnput_unquote(&buf, &bufsize, 0, src + t->start,                \
+                      t->end - t->start, NULL, strquoteNoQuote) < 0)    \
+    return -1;                                                          \
+  target = strndup(buf, t->end - t->start);
+
+
 /*
   Scans a value from `src` and write it to memory pointed to by `p`.
 
@@ -1197,23 +1212,29 @@ int dlite_type_scan(const char *src, int len, void *p, DLiteType dtype,
         return errx(dliteParseError, "relation should have 3 (optionally 4) elements");
       m = tokens->end - tokens->start;
       if (tokens->type == JSMN_ARRAY) {
+        size_t bufsize=0;
+        char *buf=NULL;
         if (!(t = jsmn_element(src, tokens, 0))) return -1;
-        rel->s = strndup(src + t->start, t->end - t->start);
+        SET_RELATION(rel->s, buf, bufsize, t, src);
         if (!(t = jsmn_element(src, tokens, 1))) return -1;
-        rel->p = strndup(src + t->start, t->end - t->start);
+        SET_RELATION(rel->p, buf, bufsize, t, src);
         if (!(t = jsmn_element(src, tokens, 2))) return -1;
-        rel->o = strndup(src + t->start, t->end - t->start);
+        SET_RELATION(rel->o, buf, bufsize, t, src);
         if (tokens->size > 3 && (t = jsmn_element(src, tokens, 3)))
           rel->id = strndup(src + t->start, t->end - t->start);
+        free(buf);
       } else if (tokens->type == JSMN_OBJECT) {
+        size_t bufsize=0;
+        char *buf=NULL;
         if (!(t = jsmn_item(src, tokens, "s"))) return -1;
-        rel->s = strndup(src + t->start, t->end - t->start);
+        SET_RELATION(rel->s, buf, bufsize, t, src);
         if (!(t = jsmn_item(src, tokens, "p"))) return -1;
-        rel->p = strndup(src + t->start, t->end - t->start);
+        SET_RELATION(rel->p, buf, bufsize, t, src);
         if (!(t = jsmn_item(src, tokens, "o"))) return -1;
-        rel->o = strndup(src + t->start, t->end - t->start);
+        SET_RELATION(rel->o, buf, bufsize, t, src);
         if ((t = jsmn_item(src, tokens, "id")))
           rel->id = strndup(src + t->start, t->end - t->start);
+        free(buf);
       } else {
         return errx(dliteValueError, "relation should be a JSON array");
       }
diff --git a/src/tests/test_json.c b/src/tests/test_json.c
index 96c887577..f688af892 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_json.c
+++ b/src/tests/test_json.c
@@ -77,7 +77,6 @@ MU_TEST(test_sprint)
   //printf("%s\n", buf);
   mu_assert_int_eq(1165, m);
 
-  //printf("\n========================================================\n");
 
 
   /* Tests for PR #541 */
@@ -87,6 +86,19 @@ MU_TEST(test_sprint)
   m = dlite_json_sprint(NULL, 0, inst, 4, dliteJsonSingle);
   mu_assert_int_eq(404, m);
 
+
+  /* Tests for proper quoting */
+  DLiteCollection *coll = dlite_collection_create(NULL);
+  dlite_collection_add_relation(coll, "s", "p", "\"o\"");
+  m = dlite_json_sprint(buf, sizeof(buf), (DLiteInstance *)coll, 2, 0);
+  const DLiteRelation *rel = dlite_collection_find_first(coll, "s", "p", NULL);
+  mu_assert_string_eq("\"o\"", rel->o);
+  dlite_instance_decref((DLiteInstance *)coll);
+  //printf("\n--------------------------------------------------------\n");
+  //printf("%s\n", buf);
+
+
+  //printf("\n========================================================\n");
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/utils/strutils.c b/src/utils/strutils.c
index c513988a2..0b3020174 100644
--- a/src/utils/strutils.c
+++ b/src/utils/strutils.c
@@ -245,6 +245,9 @@ int strnput_escape(char **destp, size_t *sizep, size_t pos,
   Embedded double-quotes are escaped with backslash. At most `size`
   characters are written to `dest` (including terminating NUL).
 
+  If `s` is NULL, this function will behave similarly to snprintf(),
+  except for the added quoting marks.
+
   Returns number of characters written to `dest` (excluding
   terminating NUL).  If the output is truncated, the number of
   characters which should have been written is returned.
@@ -264,24 +267,47 @@ int strnquote(char *dest, size_t size, const char *s, int n,
 {
   size_t i=0, j=0;
   if (!size) dest = NULL;
+
+  /* Write initial quote sign to `dest`. */
   if (!(flags & strquoteNoQuote)) {
     if (size > i) dest[i] = '"';
     i++;
   }
-  while (s[j] && (n < 0 || (int)j < n)) {
-    if (s[j] == '"' && !(flags & strquoteNoEscape)) {
-      if (size > i) dest[i] = '\\';
+
+  if (s) {
+
+    /* Loop over each character in source `s` and copy it to `dest`.
+       If `n` is positive, consume at most `n` characters from `s`. */
+    while (s[j] && (n < 0 || (int)j < n)) {
+
+      /* Add backslash (escape) in front of double-quote characters
+         when copying to `dest` */
+      if (s[j] == '"' && !(flags & strquoteNoEscape)) {
+        if (size > i) dest[i] = '\\';
+        i++;
+      }
+      if (size > i) dest[i] = s[j];
       i++;
+      j++;
     }
-    if (size > i) dest[i] = s[j];
-    i++;
-    j++;
+
+  } else {
+
+    /* If `s` is NULL, use system snprintf() to represent it in a standard
+       way. */
+    int m = snprintf(dest+i, PDIFF(size, i), "%s", s);
+    if (m >= 0) i += j;
   }
+
+  /* Write final quote sign to `dest`. */
   if (!(flags & strquoteNoQuote)) {
     if (dest && size > i) dest[i] = '"';
     i++;
   }
+
+  /* Ensure that `dest` is NUL-terminated. */
   if (dest) dest[(size > i) ? i : size-1] = '\0';
+
   return i;
 }
 
@@ -313,7 +339,7 @@ int strunquote(char *dest, size_t size, const char *s,
 
 
 /*
-  Like strunquote, but if `n` is non-negative, at most `n` bytes are
+  Like strunquote(), but if `n` is non-negative, at most `n` bytes are
   read from `s`.
 
   This mostly make sense in combination when `flags & strquoteNoEscape`
@@ -342,6 +368,42 @@ int strnunquote(char *dest, size_t size, const char *s, int n,
 }
 
 
+/*
+  Like strnunquote(), but reallocates the destination and writes to
+  position `pos`.
+
+  On allocation error, -3 is returned.
+ */
+int strnput_unquote(char **destp, size_t *sizep, size_t pos, const char *s,
+                    int n, int *consumed, StrquoteFlags flags)
+{
+  int m;
+  /* Ensure consistency */
+  if (!*destp) *sizep = 0;
+  if (!*sizep) *destp = NULL;
+
+  /* Use strnunquote() to get now much memory we need. */
+  m = strnunquote(NULL, 0, s, n, consumed, flags);
+  if (m < 0) return m;  // On error, pass it on...
+
+  /* If the allocated size is not large enough, reallocate `*destp` to the
+     needed size. */
+  if (m + pos >= *sizep) {
+    char *q;
+    size_t size = m + pos + 1;
+    if (!(q = realloc(*destp, size))) return -3;
+    *destp = q;
+    *sizep = size;
+  }
+
+  /* Use strnunquote() again to write the allocated buffer. */
+  m = strnunquote(*destp+pos, PDIFF(*sizep, pos), s, n, consumed, flags);
+  assert(m >= 0);            // we don't expect any errors now
+  assert(m + pos < *sizep);  // the buffer should be large enough
+  return m;
+}
+
+
 /********************************************************************
  *  Hexadecimal encoding/decoding
  ********************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/utils/strutils.h b/src/utils/strutils.h
index 6306671bb..040931d08 100644
--- a/src/utils/strutils.h
+++ b/src/utils/strutils.h
@@ -189,6 +189,15 @@ int strunquote(char *dest, size_t size, const char *s,
 int strnunquote(char *dest, size_t size, const char *s, int n,
                int *consumed, StrquoteFlags flags);
 
+/**
+  Like strnunquote(), but reallocates the destination and writes to
+  position `pos`.
+
+  On allocation error, -3 is returned.
+ */
+int strnput_unquote(char **destp, size_t *sizep, size_t pos, const char *s,
+                    int n, int *consumed, StrquoteFlags flags);
+
 
 /** @} */
 /**
diff --git a/src/utils/tests/test_strutils.c b/src/utils/tests/test_strutils.c
index f7bf7947c..04b70111b 100644
--- a/src/utils/tests/test_strutils.c
+++ b/src/utils/tests/test_strutils.c
@@ -219,6 +219,34 @@ MU_TEST(test_strunquote)
 }
 
 
+MU_TEST(test_strput_unquote)
+{
+  char *buf=NULL;
+  size_t size=0;
+  int n, consumed;
+
+  n = strnput_unquote(&buf, &size, 0, "\"123\"", 4, &consumed, 0);
+  mu_assert_int_eq(3, n);
+  mu_assert_int_eq(4, consumed);
+  mu_assert_int_eq(4, size);
+  mu_assert_string_eq("123", buf);
+
+  n = strnput_unquote(&buf, &size, 2, "\"abc\"", 4, &consumed, 0);
+  mu_assert_int_eq(3, n);
+  mu_assert_int_eq(4, consumed);
+  mu_assert_int_eq(6, size);
+  mu_assert_string_eq("12abc", buf);
+
+  n = strnput_unquote(&buf, &size, 0, "  \"123\" + 4 ", -1, &consumed, 0);
+  mu_assert_int_eq(3, n);
+  mu_assert_int_eq(7, consumed);
+  mu_assert_int_eq(6, size);
+  mu_assert_string_eq("123", buf);
+
+  free(buf);
+}
+
+
 MU_TEST(test_strhex_encode)
 {
   unsigned char data[4] = {0x61, 0x62, 0x63, 0x64};
@@ -428,6 +456,7 @@ MU_TEST_SUITE(test_suite)
   MU_RUN_TEST(test_strquote);
   MU_RUN_TEST(test_strnquote);
   MU_RUN_TEST(test_strunquote);
+  MU_RUN_TEST(test_strput_unquote);
   MU_RUN_TEST(test_strhex_encode);
   MU_RUN_TEST(test_strhex_decode);
   MU_RUN_TEST(test_strcategory);