diff --git a/roseus/roseus.cpp b/roseus/roseus.cpp
index 22f6d7e91..6cb7669cf 100644
--- a/roseus/roseus.cpp
+++ b/roseus/roseus.cpp
@@ -1293,8 +1293,12 @@ void EusValueToXmlRpc(register context *ctx, pointer argp, XmlRpc::XmlRpcValue&
           string skey = string((char *)get_string(ccar(v)->c.sym.pname));
           boost::algorithm::to_lower(skey);
           stringstream << "<member><name>" << skey << "</name><value><boolean>0</boolean></value></member>";
+        }
+        else if ( isstring(ccar(v)) ) {
+          string skey = string((char *)get_string(ccar(v)));
+          stringstream << "<member><name>" << skey << "</name><value><boolean>0</boolean></value></member>";
         }else{
-          ROS_ERROR("ROSEUS_SET_PARAM: EusValueToXmlRpc: assuming symbol");prinx(ctx,ccar(v),ERROUT);flushstream(ERROUT);terpri(ERROUT);
+          ROS_ERROR("ROSEUS_SET_PARAM: EusValueToXmlRpc: invalid param name; requires symbol or string");prinx(ctx,ccar(v),ERROUT);flushstream(ERROUT);terpri(ERROUT);
         }
       }else{
         ROS_ERROR("ROSEUS_SET_PARAM: EusValueToXmlRpc: assuming alist");prinx(ctx,argp,ERROUT);flushstream(ERROUT);terpri(ERROUT);
@@ -1315,6 +1319,12 @@ void EusValueToXmlRpc(register context *ctx, pointer argp, XmlRpc::XmlRpcValue&
           EusValueToXmlRpc(ctx, ccdr(v), p);
           rpc_value[skey] = p;
         }
+        else if ( isstring(ccar(v)) ) {
+          string skey = string((char *)get_string(ccar(v)));
+          XmlRpc::XmlRpcValue p;
+          EusValueToXmlRpc(ctx, ccdr(v), p);
+          rpc_value[skey] = p;
+        }
       }
       a=ccdr(a);
     }