diff --git a/jc/parsers/ini.py b/jc/parsers/ini.py
index 10563db8..003095e9 100644
--- a/jc/parsers/ini.py
+++ b/jc/parsers/ini.py
@@ -93,15 +93,15 @@ __version__ = info.version
 
 
 def _remove_quotes(value):
-    if value is not None and value.startswith('"') and value.endswith('"'):
-        value = value[1:-1]
-
-    elif value is not None and value.startswith("'") and value.endswith("'"):
-        value = value[1:-1]
-
-    elif value is None:
+    if value is None:
         value = ''
 
+    elif value.startswith('"') and value.endswith('"'):
+        value = value[1:-1]
+
+    elif value.startswith("'") and value.endswith("'"):
+        value = value[1:-1]
+
     return value