diff --git a/keystore.rkt b/keystore.rkt
index f48651a..456ac11 100644
--- a/keystore.rkt
+++ b/keystore.rkt
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 (require racket/contract
          racket/serialize
          racket/port
+         racket/string
          db
          )
 
@@ -184,10 +185,14 @@
 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
 
 (define (value->string v)
-  (call-with-output-string
-   (λ (out) (write (serialize v) out))))
+  (if (string? v)
+      v
+      (call-with-output-string
+       (λ (out) (write (serialize v) out)))))
 
 (define (string->value v)
-  (deserialize
-   (call-with-input-string v (λ (in) (read in)))))
+  (if (and (string-prefix? v "((") (string-suffix? v ")"))
+      (deserialize
+       (call-with-input-string v (λ (in) (read in))))
+      v))