diff --git a/fluent/handler.py b/fluent/handler.py
index 9297550..d68d479 100644
--- a/fluent/handler.py
+++ b/fluent/handler.py
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ def __init__(self, fmt=None, datefmt=None, style='%', fill_missing_fmt_key=False
                     self._formatter = fmt
                     self.usesTime = fmt.usesTime
                 else:
+                    if type(fmt) == str:
+                        import ast
+                        fmt = ast.literal_eval(fmt)
                     self._fmt_dict = fmt
                     self._formatter = self._format_by_dict
                     self.usesTime = self._format_by_dict_uses_time