diff --git a/dask_sql/input_utils/hive.py b/dask_sql/input_utils/hive.py
index 4e1bdde62..b786c0913 100644
--- a/dask_sql/input_utils/hive.py
+++ b/dask_sql/input_utils/hive.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import ast
 import logging
 import os
+import re
 from functools import partial
 from typing import Any, Union
 
@@ -184,6 +185,24 @@ def wrapped_read_function(location, column_information, **kwargs):
         df = wrapped_read_function(location, column_information, **kwargs)
         return df
 
+    def _escape_partition(self, partition: str):  # pragma: no cover
+        """
+        Given a partition string like `key=value` escape the string properly for Hive.
+         Wrap anything but digits in quotes. Don't wrap the column name.
+        """
+        contains_only_digits = re.compile(r"^\d+$")
+
+        try:
+            k, v = partition.split("=")
+            if re.match(contains_only_digits, v):
+                escaped_value = v
+            else:
+                escaped_value = f'"{v}"'
+            return f"{k}={escaped_value}"
+        except ValueError:
+            logger.warning(f"{partition} didn't contain a `=`")
+            return partition
+
     def _parse_hive_table_description(
         self,
         cursor: Union["sqlalchemy.engine.base.Connection", "hive.Cursor"],
@@ -198,6 +217,7 @@ def _parse_hive_table_description(
         """
         cursor.execute(f"USE {schema}")
         if partition:
+            partition = self._escape_partition(partition)
             result = self._fetch_all_results(
                 cursor, f"DESCRIBE FORMATTED {table_name} PARTITION ({partition})"
             )