diff --git a/src/boutdata/data.py b/src/boutdata/data.py
index d3fbd3c54..b72e1d47f 100644
--- a/src/boutdata/data.py
+++ b/src/boutdata/data.py
@@ -639,6 +639,7 @@ def __init__(
         nx=None,
         ny=None,
         nz=None,
+        recalculate_xyz=True,
     ):
         BoutOptions.__init__(self, name)
         self.filename = filename
@@ -743,8 +744,12 @@ def count_brackets(s):
                                 # Try to convert to float
                                 value = float(value)
                             except ValueError:
-                                # Leave as a string
-                                pass
+                                # Leave as a string, stripping surrounding quotes
+                                if len(value) >= 2 and (
+                                    (value[0] == '"' and value[-1] == '"')
+                                    or (value[0] == "'" and value[-1] == "'")
+                                ):
+                                    value = value[1:-1]
 
                         value_name = line[:eqpos].strip()
                         section[value_name] = value
@@ -755,15 +760,16 @@ def count_brackets(s):
                         section.inline_comments[value_name] = inline_comment
                         section._comment_whitespace[value_name] = comment_whitespace
 
-        try:
-            self.recalculate_xyz(nx=nx, ny=ny, nz=nz)
-        except Exception as e:
-            alwayswarn(
-                "While building x, y, z coordinate arrays, an "
-                "exception occured: "
-                + str(e)
-                + "\nEvaluating non-scalar options not available"
-            )
+        if recalculate_xyz:
+            try:
+                self.recalculate_xyz(nx=nx, ny=ny, nz=nz)
+            except Exception as e:
+                alwayswarn(
+                    "While building x, y, z coordinate arrays, an "
+                    "exception occured: "
+                    + str(e)
+                    + "\nEvaluating non-scalar options not available"
+                )
 
     def recalculate_xyz(self, *, nx=None, ny=None, nz=None):
         """