diff --git a/cmd/release_config/crunch_flags/main.go b/cmd/release_config/crunch_flags/main.go
index 4d763c8..cd39ffd 100644
--- a/cmd/release_config/crunch_flags/main.go
+++ b/cmd/release_config/crunch_flags/main.go
@@ -137,7 +137,9 @@
 		workflow := rc_proto.Workflow(rc_proto.Workflow_PREBUILT)
 		switch {
 		case declName == "RELEASE_ACONFIG_VALUE_SETS":
-			rootAconfigModule = declValue[1 : len(declValue)-1]
+			if strings.HasPrefix(declValue, "\"") {
+				rootAconfigModule = declValue[1 : len(declValue)-1]
+			}
 			continue
 		case strings.HasPrefix(declValue, "\""):
 			// String values mean that the flag workflow is (most likely) either MANUAL or PREBUILT.