diff --git a/docs/markdown/Reference-manual.md b/docs/markdown/Reference-manual.md
index eee44055a..92c8a1ff6 100644
--- a/docs/markdown/Reference-manual.md
+++ b/docs/markdown/Reference-manual.md
@@ -1556,6 +1556,11 @@ page](Configuration.md) It has three methods:
   value has not been set returns `default_value` if it is defined
   *(added 0.38.0)* and errors out if not
 
+- `get_unquoted(varname, default_value)` returns the value of `varname`
+  but without surrounding double quotes (`"`). If the value has not been
+  set returns `default_value` if it is defined and errors out if not.
+  Available since 0.43.0
+
 - `has(varname)`, returns `true` if the specified variable is set
 
 - `merge_from(other)` takes as argument a different configuration data
diff --git a/docs/markdown/snippets/get_unquoted.md b/docs/markdown/snippets/get_unquoted.md
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..5f8969d22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/markdown/snippets/get_unquoted.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# `get_unquoted()` mehod for the `configuration` data object
+
+New convenience method that allow reusing a variable value
+defined quoted. Useful in C for config.h strings for example.
diff --git a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
index c7a0fb71c..6300f7f1b 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ class ConfigurationDataHolder(MutableInterpreterObject, ObjectHolder):
                              'set_quoted': self.set_quoted_method,
                              'has': self.has_method,
                              'get': self.get_method,
+                             'get_unquoted': self.get_unquoted_method,
                              'merge_from': self.merge_from_method,
                              })
 
@@ -232,6 +233,20 @@ class ConfigurationDataHolder(MutableInterpreterObject, ObjectHolder):
             return args[1]
         raise InterpreterException('Entry %s not in configuration data.' % name)
 
+    def get_unquoted_method(self, args, kwargs):
+        if len(args) < 1 or len(args) > 2:
+            raise InterpreterException('Get method takes one or two arguments.')
+        name = args[0]
+        if name in self.held_object:
+            val = self.held_object.get(name)[0]
+        elif len(args) > 1:
+            val = args[1]
+        else:
+            raise InterpreterException('Entry %s not in configuration data.' % name)
+        if val[0] == '"' and val[-1] == '"':
+            return val[1:-1]
+        return val
+
     def get(self, name):
         return self.held_object.values[name]     # (val, desc)
 
diff --git a/test cases/common/16 configure file/dumpprog.c b/test cases/common/16 configure file/dumpprog.c
index 685240ced..39a215ee8 100644
--- a/test cases/common/16 configure file/dumpprog.c	
+++ b/test cases/common/16 configure file/dumpprog.c	
@@ -12,7 +12,14 @@
 #error Token did not get defined
 #endif
 
+#define stringify(s) str(s)
+#define str(s) #s
+
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
+#if !(SHOULD_BE_UNQUOTED_STRING == string)
+        printf("String token (unquoted) defined wrong.\n");
+        return 1;
+#endif
     if(strcmp(SHOULD_BE_STRING, "string") != 0) {
         printf("String token defined wrong.\n");
         return 1;
diff --git a/test cases/common/16 configure file/meson.build b/test cases/common/16 configure file/meson.build
index 9dc5fb55e..1e5a8196e 100644
--- a/test cases/common/16 configure file/meson.build	
+++ b/test cases/common/16 configure file/meson.build	
@@ -70,6 +70,12 @@ dump.set('SHOULD_BE_UNDEFINED', false)
 dump.set('SHOULD_BE_ONE', 1)
 dump.set('SHOULD_BE_ZERO', 0, description : 'Absolutely zero')
 dump.set('SHOULD_BE_QUOTED_ONE', '"1"')
+
+dump.set_quoted('INTEGER_AS_STRING', '12')
+if dump.get_unquoted('INTEGER_AS_STRING').to_int() == 12
+  dump.set('SHOULD_BE_UNQUOTED_STRING', dump.get_unquoted('SHOULD_BE_STRING'))
+endif
+
 configure_file(output : 'config3.h',
   configuration : dump)