diff --git a/cmd/interactive.go b/cmd/interactive.go
index 9035b4c52..012fd1690 100644
--- a/cmd/interactive.go
+++ b/cmd/interactive.go
@@ -485,6 +485,9 @@ func buildModelfile(opts runOptions) string {
 	}
 
 	for _, msg := range opts.Messages {
+		if strings.Contains(msg.Content, "\"") {
+			msg.Content = `"""` + msg.Content + `"""`
+		}
 		f.Commands = append(f.Commands, parser.Command{Name: "message", Args: fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", msg.Role, msg.Content)})
 	}