diff --git a/fpga_interchange/interchange_capnp.py b/fpga_interchange/interchange_capnp.py
index 5ecadb80..7b48014b 100644
--- a/fpga_interchange/interchange_capnp.py
+++ b/fpga_interchange/interchange_capnp.py
@@ -243,8 +243,9 @@ def create_property_map(self, property_map, d):
             entry.key = self.string_id(k)
 
             if isinstance(v, str):
-                if v[0] == '"' and v[-1] == '"':
-                    v = v[1:-1]
+                if len(v) >= 2:
+                    if v[0] == '"' and v[-1] == '"':
+                        v = v[1:-1]
                 entry.textValue = self.string_id(v)
             elif isinstance(v, bool):
                 entry.boolValue = v