diff --git a/doc/whatsnew/2/2.14/full.rst b/doc/whatsnew/2/2.14/full.rst
index 11caebb800..a0d5e7bc8a 100644
--- a/doc/whatsnew/2/2.14/full.rst
+++ b/doc/whatsnew/2/2.14/full.rst
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ What's New in Pylint 2.14.4?
 ----------------------------
 Release date: TBA
 
+* Fixed regression that didn't allow quoted ``init-hooks`` in option files.
 
+  Closes #7006
 
 What's New in Pylint 2.14.3?
 ----------------------------
diff --git a/pylint/config/config_initialization.py b/pylint/config/config_initialization.py
index 9f3b2bcc51..af47a4c6bb 100644
--- a/pylint/config/config_initialization.py
+++ b/pylint/config/config_initialization.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def _config_initialization(
 
     # Run init hook, if present, before loading plugins
     if "init-hook" in config_data:
-        exec(config_data["init-hook"])  # pylint: disable=exec-used
+        exec(utils._unquote(config_data["init-hook"]))  # pylint: disable=exec-used
 
     # Load plugins if specified in the config file
     if "load-plugins" in config_data:
diff --git a/tests/config/functional/ini/pylintrc_with_quoted_init_hook.0.out b/tests/config/functional/ini/pylintrc_with_quoted_init_hook.0.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..21edc7ba0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/config/functional/ini/pylintrc_with_quoted_init_hook.0.out
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+I should just print
diff --git a/tests/config/functional/ini/pylintrc_with_quoted_init_hook.ini b/tests/config/functional/ini/pylintrc_with_quoted_init_hook.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8b10877edf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/config/functional/ini/pylintrc_with_quoted_init_hook.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# Check that we support quoted init-hooks
+# See https://github.com/PyCQA/pylint/issues/7006
+[MAIN]
+init-hook='print("I should just print")'