diff --git a/lisp/ob-core.el b/lisp/ob-core.el
index 143a8bec1..08d6e0045 100644
--- a/lisp/ob-core.el
+++ b/lisp/ob-core.el
@@ -3319,7 +3319,8 @@ SEPARATOR is passed to `org-table-convert-region', which see."
       (_ result))))
 
 (defun org-babel-string-read (cell)
-  "Strip nested \"s from around strings."
+  "Strip nested \"s from around CELL string.
+When CELL is not a string, return CELL."
   (org-babel-read (or (and (stringp cell)
                            (string-match "^[[:space:]]*\"\\(.+\\)\"[[:space:]]*$" cell)
                            (match-string 1 cell))