diff --git a/optional/fetchmail/fetchmail.py b/optional/fetchmail/fetchmail.py
index 8e26e82e..5bd47cd7 100755
--- a/optional/fetchmail/fetchmail.py
+++ b/optional/fetchmail/fetchmail.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def run(debug):
             options = "options antispam 501, 504, 550, 553, 554"
             options += " ssl" if fetch["tls"] else ""
             options += " keep" if fetch["keep"] else " fetchall"
-            folders = "folders %s" % ((','.join('"' + imaputf7encode(item) + '"' for item in fetch['folders'])) if fetch['folders'] else '"INBOX"')
+            folders = f"folders {",".join(f'"{imaputf7encode(item).replace('"',r"\34")}"' for item in fetch["folders"]) or '"INBOX"'}"
             fetchmailrc += RC_LINE.format(
                 user_email=escape_rc_string(fetch["user_email"]),
                 protocol=fetch["protocol"],