diff --git a/CONSTRUCT.md b/CONSTRUCT.md
index 0666534f6..2d9b45baa 100644
--- a/CONSTRUCT.md
+++ b/CONSTRUCT.md
@@ -458,7 +458,9 @@ On Unix the variable values are automatically single quoted, allowing
 you to supply strings with spaces, without needing to worry about
 escaping. As a consequence, string interpolation is disabled: if you
 need string interpolation, you can apply it in the
-pre_install/post_install script(s).
+pre_install/post_install script(s). If you need to include single quotes
+in your value, you can escape them by replacing each single quote with
+`'\''`.
 
 ### `pre_uninstall`
 
diff --git a/examples/scripts/construct.yaml b/examples/scripts/construct.yaml
index 4908198b2..db70bd15e 100644
--- a/examples/scripts/construct.yaml
+++ b/examples/scripts/construct.yaml
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ specs:
   - python
 
 script_env_variables:
-  CUSTOM_VARIABLE_1: FIR$T CUSTOM STRING WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"
-  CUSTOM_VARIABLE_2: $ECOND CUSTOM STRING WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"
+  CUSTOM_VARIABLE_1: FIR$T CUSTOM '\''STRING'\'' WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"
+  CUSTOM_VARIABLE_2: $ECOND CUSTOM '\''STRING'\'' WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"
 
 pre_install: pre_install.sh   # [unix]
 pre_install: pre_install.bat  # [win]
diff --git a/examples/scripts/post_install.sh b/examples/scripts/post_install.sh
index 5f6e73786..0495b08ef 100644
--- a/examples/scripts/post_install.sh
+++ b/examples/scripts/post_install.sh
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ echo "PREFIX=${PREFIX}"
 
 test "${INSTALLER_NAME}" = "Scripts"
 test "${INSTALLER_VER}" = "X"
-test "${CUSTOM_VARIABLE_1}" = 'FIR$T CUSTOM STRING WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"'
-test "${CUSTOM_VARIABLE_2}" = '$ECOND CUSTOM STRING WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"'
+test "${CUSTOM_VARIABLE_1}" = 'FIR$T CUSTOM '\''STRING'\'' WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"'
+test "${CUSTOM_VARIABLE_2}" = '$ECOND CUSTOM '\''STRING'\'' WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"'
 
 if [[ $(uname -s) == Linux ]]; then
     if [[ ${INSTALLER_PLAT} != linux-* ]]; then
diff --git a/examples/scripts/pre_install.sh b/examples/scripts/pre_install.sh
index f4d41ce13..f164efdfc 100644
--- a/examples/scripts/pre_install.sh
+++ b/examples/scripts/pre_install.sh
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ echo "PREFIX=${PREFIX}"
 
 test "${INSTALLER_NAME}" = "Scripts"
 test "${INSTALLER_VER}" = "X"
-test "${CUSTOM_VARIABLE_1}" = 'FIR$T CUSTOM STRING WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"'
-test "${CUSTOM_VARIABLE_2}" = '$ECOND CUSTOM STRING WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"'
+test "${CUSTOM_VARIABLE_1}" = 'FIR$T CUSTOM '\''STRING'\'' WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"'
+test "${CUSTOM_VARIABLE_2}" = '$ECOND CUSTOM '\''STRING'\'' WITH SPACES AND @*#! "CHARACTERS"'
 
 if [[ $(uname -s) == Linux ]]; then
     if [[ ${INSTALLER_PLAT} != linux-* ]]; then