diff --git a/src/com/mirantis/mk/Salt.groovy b/src/com/mirantis/mk/Salt.groovy
index 53a06d8..9ba3d84 100644
--- a/src/com/mirantis/mk/Salt.groovy
+++ b/src/com/mirantis/mk/Salt.groovy
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@
     def python = new com.mirantis.mk.Python()
     def dataStr = new groovy.json.JsonBuilder(data).toString()
 
-    def pepperCmd = "pepper -c ${venv}/pepperrc --make-token -x ${venv}/.peppercache --json '${dataStr}'"
+    def pepperCmd = "pepper -c ${venv}/pepperrc --make-token -x ${venv}/.peppercache --json \\'${dataStr}\\'"
 
     if (venv) {
         output = python.runVirtualenvCommand(venv, pepperCmd)