diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/splitter.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/splitter.py
index 3daf3012e1a..3f0fd8a5a28 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/splitter.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/splitter.py
@@ -187,9 +187,12 @@ def split_args(args):
 
     return params
 
+def is_quoted(data):
+    return len(data) > 0 and (data[0] == '"' and data[-1] == '"' or data[0] == "'" and data[-1] == "'")
+
 def unquote(data):
     ''' removes first and last quotes from a string, if the string starts and ends with the same quotes '''
-    if len(data) > 0 and (data[0] == '"' and data[-1] == '"' or data[0] == "'" and data[-1] == "'"):
+    if is_quoted(data):
         return data[1:-1]
     return data
 
diff --git a/library/files/lineinfile b/library/files/lineinfile
index f40ebb341e2..ba842e15e2a 100644
--- a/library/files/lineinfile
+++ b/library/files/lineinfile
@@ -363,14 +363,22 @@ def main():
         if ins_bef is None and ins_aft is None:
             ins_aft = 'EOF'
 
+        line = params['line']
+
+        # The safe_eval call will remove some quoting, but not others,
+        # so we need to know if we should specifically unquote it.
+        should_unquote = not is_quoted(line)
+
         # Replace escape sequences like '\n' while being sure 
         # not to replace octal escape sequences (\ooo) since they
-        # match the backref syntax
+        # match the backref syntax.
         if backrefs:
-            line = re.sub(r'(\\[0-9]{1,3})', r'\\\1', params['line'])
-        else:
-            line = params['line']
-        line = unquote(module.safe_eval(pipes.quote(line)))
+            line = re.sub(r'(\\[0-9]{1,3})', r'\\\1', line)
+        line = module.safe_eval(pipes.quote(line))
+
+        # Now remove quotes around the string, if needed
+        if should_unquote:
+            line = unquote(line)
 
         present(module, dest, params['regexp'], line,
                 ins_aft, ins_bef, create, backup, backrefs)