diff --git a/numpy/f2py/crackfortran.py b/numpy/f2py/crackfortran.py
index 448db3c2e709..37b453706dec 100755
--- a/numpy/f2py/crackfortran.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/crackfortran.py
@@ -2629,7 +2629,9 @@ def _eval_scalar(value, params):
     if _is_kind_number(value):
         value = value.split('_')[0]
     try:
-        value = str(eval(value, {}, params))
+        # TODO: use symbolic from PR #19805
+        value = eval(value, {}, params)
+        value = (repr if isinstance(value, str) else str)(value)
     except (NameError, SyntaxError, TypeError):
         return value
     except Exception as msg:
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_crackfortran.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_crackfortran.py
index d8eecefd2c1f..5594d77b7a4a 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_crackfortran.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_crackfortran.py
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ def test_module(self):
         assert self.module.t0('23') == b'2'
 
 
-
 class TestPublicPrivate():
     def test_defaultPrivate(self, tmp_path):
         f_path = tmp_path / "mod.f90"
@@ -166,3 +165,14 @@ def test_ignore_inner_quotes(self):
     def test_multiple_relevant_spaces(self):
         assert_equal(markinnerspaces("a 'b c' 'd e'"), "a 'b@_@c' 'd@_@e'")
         assert_equal(markinnerspaces(r'a "b c" "d e"'), r'a "b@_@c" "d@_@e"')
+
+
+class TestEval(util.F2PyTest):
+
+    def test_eval_scalar(self):
+        eval_scalar = crackfortran._eval_scalar
+
+        assert eval_scalar('123', {}) == '123'
+        assert eval_scalar('12 + 3', {}) == '15'
+        assert eval_scalar('a + b', dict(a=1, b=2)) == '3'
+        assert eval_scalar('"123"', {}) == "'123'"