diff --git a/snakemake/executors/__init__.py b/snakemake/executors/__init__.py
index b8717e52c..06089242a 100644
--- a/snakemake/executors/__init__.py
+++ b/snakemake/executors/__init__.py
@@ -789,11 +789,12 @@ def format_job(self, pattern, job, **kwargs):
 
             waitfiles_parameter = format(
                 "--wait-for-files-file {wait_for_files_file}",
-                wait_for_files_file=wait_for_files_file,
+                wait_for_files_file=repr(wait_for_files_file),
             )
         else:
             waitfiles_parameter = format(
-                "--wait-for-files {wait_for_files}", wait_for_files=wait_for_files
+                "--wait-for-files {wait_for_files}",
+                wait_for_files=[repr(f) for f in wait_for_files],
             )
 
         format_p = partial(