diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 38ae820..d1b2a03 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ Allocate Atari XL/XE Antic string:
 
 `'` _text_`'`
 
-Allocate counted ASCII string:
+Allocate ASCII string:
 
 `"` _text_`"`
 
diff --git a/foco65 b/foco65
index 418009f..cda679e 100755
--- a/foco65
+++ b/foco65
@@ -563,15 +563,19 @@ class Forth:
         item = Code("\n dta %d" % self.pop(token), self.data_section)
         self.items.append(item)
 
-    def parse_comma_doublequote(self):
-        # allocate ASCII counted string
+    def parse_comma_doublequote(self, counted):
+        # allocate ASCII string
         self.input.mark_start()
         while True:
             token = self.next()
             if token.endswith('"'):
                 self.input.mark_end()
                 text = self.input.marked()[1:-1]
-                item = Code("\n dta %d,c'%s'" % (len(text), text), self.data_section)
+                if counted:
+                    count = "%d," % len(text)
+                else:
+                    count = ""
+                item = Code("\n dta %sc'%s'" % (count, text), self.data_section)
                 self.items.append(item)
                 break