diff --git a/stateengine/StateEngineActions.py b/stateengine/StateEngineActions.py
index 05f2b340a..75a64de47 100755
--- a/stateengine/StateEngineActions.py
+++ b/stateengine/StateEngineActions.py
@@ -82,8 +82,7 @@ def update(self, attribute, value):
                 return _count, _issue
             elif isinstance(value, str):
                 value = ":".join(map(str.strip, value.split(":")))
-                if value[:1] == '[' and value[-1:] == ']':
-                    value = StateEngineTools.convert_str_to_list(value, False)
+                value = StateEngineTools.convert_str_to_list(value, False)
             if name in self.__actions:
                 self.__actions[name].update_action_details(self.__state, self.__action_type)
             if func == "se_delay":
@@ -388,8 +387,7 @@ def remove_action(e):
                     entry = list("{!s}:{!s}".format(k, v) for (k, v) in entry.items())[0]
                 key, val = StateEngineTools.partition_strip(entry, ":")
                 val = ":".join(map(str.strip, val.split(":")))
-                if val[:1] == '[' and val[-1:] == ']':
-                    val = StateEngineTools.convert_str_to_list(val, False)
+                val = StateEngineTools.convert_str_to_list(val, False)
                 if key == "function":
                     parameter[key] = StateEngineTools.cast_str(val)
                 elif key == "force":
diff --git a/stateengine/StateEngineTools.py b/stateengine/StateEngineTools.py
index 8be8bb0b2..b423c9c6a 100755
--- a/stateengine/StateEngineTools.py
+++ b/stateengine/StateEngineTools.py
@@ -318,9 +318,13 @@ def partition_strip(value, splitchar):
 # returns: list or original value
 def convert_str_to_list(value, force=True):
     if isinstance(value, str):
+        orig_value = value
         value = value.strip()
         if value.startswith('[') and value.endswith(']'):
             value = value[1:-1].strip()
+        else:
+            return orig_value
+
     if isinstance(value, str) and "," in value:
         try:
             elements = re.findall(r"'([^']*)'|\"([^\"]*)\"|([^,]+)", value)