diff --git a/scripts/qapi.py b/scripts/qapi.py
index 8082af3fc..d3b8b4d85 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi.py
+++ b/scripts/qapi.py
@@ -13,18 +13,29 @@ from ordereddict import OrderedDict
 
 def tokenize(data):
     while len(data):
-        if data[0] in ['{', '}', ':', ',', '[', ']']:
-            yield data[0]
-            data = data[1:]
-        elif data[0] in ' \n':
-            data = data[1:]
-        elif data[0] == "'":
-            data = data[1:]
+        ch = data[0]
+        data = data[1:]
+        if ch in ['{', '}', ':', ',', '[', ']']:
+            yield ch
+        elif ch in ' \n':
+            None
+        elif ch == "'":
             string = ''
-            while data[0] != "'":
-                string += data[0]
+            esc = False
+            while True:
+                if (data == ''):
+                    raise Exception("Mismatched quotes")
+                ch = data[0]
                 data = data[1:]
-            data = data[1:]
+                if esc:
+                    string += ch
+                    esc = False
+                elif ch == "\\":
+                    esc = True
+                elif ch == "'":
+                    break
+                else:
+                    string += ch
             yield string
 
 def parse(tokens):