diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
index 73e33ee10e..ec7bb561cc 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ class DataSmart(MutableMapping):
                     s = __expand_python_regexp__.sub(varparse.python_sub, s)
                 except SyntaxError as e:
                     # Likely unmatched brackets, just don't expand the expression
-                    if e.msg != "EOL while scanning string literal":
+                    if e.msg != "EOL while scanning string literal" and not e.msg.startswith("unterminated string literal"):
                         raise
                 if s == olds:
                     break