diff --git a/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/test_utils.py b/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/test_utils.py
index 483c1665d71..7b61733579f 100644
--- a/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/test_utils.py
+++ b/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/test_utils.py
@@ -168,3 +168,17 @@ def test_unconvertible(self):
 
     def test_unconvertible2(self):
         self.check_raises([3+4j, 1-2j], ct.CanteraError, "Unable to convert")
+
+    def test_yaml(self):
+        out, held_type = _py_to_any_to_py("{a: 1, b: 2., c: eggs, d: True}")
+        self.assertEqual(out, {"a": 1, "b": 2., "c": "eggs", "d": True})
+        self.assertEqual(held_type, "AnyMap")
+
+    def test_mixed_yaml(self):
+        out, held_type = _py_to_any_to_py({"a": 1, "b": 2., "c": "{d: eggs}"})
+        self.assertEqual(out, {"a": 1, "b": 2., "c": {"d": "eggs"}})
+        self.assertEqual(held_type, "AnyMap")
+
+    def test_invalid_yaml(self):
+        # a regular string is returned as the input is not a valid YAML sequence
+        self.check_conversion("a: 1, b: 2., c: eggs, d: True", "string")
diff --git a/interfaces/cython/cantera/utils.pyx b/interfaces/cython/cantera/utils.pyx
index 2da49172bf1..640c7c2ca28 100644
--- a/interfaces/cython/cantera/utils.pyx
+++ b/interfaces/cython/cantera/utils.pyx
@@ -284,7 +284,10 @@ cdef CxxAnyValue python_to_anyvalue(item, name=None) except *:
         else:
             v = list_to_anyvalue(item)
     elif isinstance(item, str):
-        v = stringify(item)
+        try:
+            v = AnyMapFromYamlString(stringify(item))
+        except BaseException:
+            v = stringify(item)
     elif isinstance(item, bool):
         v = <cbool>(item)
     elif isinstance(item, int):