diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/cliconf/ios.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/cliconf/ios.py
index eee65794dd2..e21ad494589 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/cliconf/ios.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/cliconf/ios.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
 __metaclass__ = type
 
+import ast
 import re
 import json
 
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ class Cliconf(CliconfBase):
     def edit_config(self, command):
         for cmd in chain(['configure terminal'], to_list(command), ['end']):
             try:
-                cmd = json.loads(cmd)
+                cmd = ast.literal_eval(cmd)
                 command = cmd['command']
                 prompt = cmd['prompt']
                 answer = cmd['answer']