diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/RebalanceApiServlet.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/RebalanceApiServlet.java
index b47960b..e98e3f6 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/RebalanceApiServlet.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/RebalanceApiServlet.java
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@
 import org.apache.asterix.metadata.utils.MetadataConstants;
 import org.apache.asterix.rebalance.NoOpDatasetRebalanceCallback;
 import org.apache.asterix.utils.RebalanceUtil;
-import org.apache.commons.lang3.StringUtils;
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.client.IHyracksClientConnection;
 import org.apache.hyracks.http.api.IServletRequest;
 import org.apache.hyracks.http.api.IServletResponse;
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@
                 sendResponse(response, HttpResponseStatus.BAD_REQUEST, "nodes are not given");
                 return;
             }
-            String nodesString = StringUtils.strip(nodes, "\"'").trim();
+            String nodesString = nodes.trim();
             String[] targetNodes = nodesString.split(",");
             if ("".equals(nodesString)) {
                 sendResponse(response, HttpResponseStatus.BAD_REQUEST, "target nodes should not be empty");
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets/all_datasets.10.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets/all_datasets.10.post.http
index ec40446..1b14773 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets/all_datasets.10.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets/all_datasets.10.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?nodes=%22asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2%22
+/admin/rebalance?nodes=asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets/all_datasets.4.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets/all_datasets.4.post.http
index be4ae4b..af6b1cf 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets/all_datasets.4.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets/all_datasets.4.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?nodes=%22asterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?nodes=asterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets_compressed/all_datasets_compressed.10.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets_compressed/all_datasets_compressed.10.post.http
index ec40446..1b14773 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets_compressed/all_datasets_compressed.10.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets_compressed/all_datasets_compressed.10.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?nodes=%22asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2%22
+/admin/rebalance?nodes=asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets_compressed/all_datasets_compressed.4.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets_compressed/all_datasets_compressed.4.post.http
index be4ae4b..af6b1cf 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets_compressed/all_datasets_compressed.4.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/all_datasets_compressed/all_datasets_compressed.4.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?nodes=%22asterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?nodes=asterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/duplicate_location/duplicate_location.3.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/duplicate_location/duplicate_location.3.post.http
index 48c45c1..3828950 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/duplicate_location/duplicate_location.3.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/duplicate_location/duplicate_location.3.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/empty_location/empty_location.3.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/empty_location/empty_location.3.post.http
index 89aa420..a488876 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/empty_location/empty_location.3.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/empty_location/empty_location.3.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/identical_location/identical_location.3.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/identical_location/identical_location.3.post.http
index d21f3fc..e179282 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/identical_location/identical_location.3.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/identical_location/identical_location.3.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc2%2Casterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc2%2Casterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/metadata/metadata.1.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/metadata/metadata.1.post.http
index 84dc1b2..53a6b6a 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/metadata/metadata.1.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/metadata/metadata.1.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=Metadata&datasetName=Dataset&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=Metadata&datasetName=Dataset&nodes=asterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/miss_dataverse/miss_dataverse.3.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/miss_dataverse/miss_dataverse.3.post.http
index f01dff9..81060ca 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/miss_dataverse/miss_dataverse.3.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/miss_dataverse/miss_dataverse.3.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/nonexist_dataset/nonexist_dataset.1.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/nonexist_dataset/nonexist_dataset.1.post.http
index 895232e..0065c1f 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/nonexist_dataset/nonexist_dataset.1.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/nonexist_dataset/nonexist_dataset.1.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset/single_dataset.4.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset/single_dataset.4.post.http
index 895232e..0065c1f 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset/single_dataset.4.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset/single_dataset.4.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset/single_dataset.8.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset/single_dataset.8.post.http
index 6399e8a..44d7f33 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset/single_dataset.8.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset/single_dataset.8.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_compressed/single_dataset_compressed.4.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_compressed/single_dataset_compressed.4.post.http
index 895232e..0065c1f 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_compressed/single_dataset_compressed.4.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_compressed/single_dataset_compressed.4.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_compressed/single_dataset_compressed.8.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_compressed/single_dataset_compressed.8.post.http
index 6399e8a..44d7f33 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_compressed/single_dataset_compressed.8.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_compressed/single_dataset_compressed.8.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index/single_dataset_with_index.4.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index/single_dataset_with_index.4.post.http
index 895232e..0065c1f 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index/single_dataset_with_index.4.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index/single_dataset_with_index.4.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index/single_dataset_with_index.9.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index/single_dataset_with_index.9.post.http
index 6399e8a..44d7f33 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index/single_dataset_with_index.9.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index/single_dataset_with_index.9.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index_compressed/single_dataset_with_index_compressed.4.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index_compressed/single_dataset_with_index_compressed.4.post.http
index 895232e..0065c1f 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index_compressed/single_dataset_with_index_compressed.4.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index_compressed/single_dataset_with_index_compressed.4.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index_compressed/single_dataset_with_index_compressed.9.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index_compressed/single_dataset_with_index_compressed.9.post.http
index 6399e8a..44d7f33 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index_compressed/single_dataset_with_index_compressed.9.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataset_with_index_compressed/single_dataset_with_index_compressed.9.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&datasetName=LineItem&nodes=asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse/single_dataverse.10.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse/single_dataverse.10.post.http
index 2adb335..6b713bc 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse/single_dataverse.10.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse/single_dataverse.10.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&nodes=asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse/single_dataverse.4.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse/single_dataverse.4.post.http
index f8e3b73..b3897e5 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse/single_dataverse.4.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse/single_dataverse.4.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&nodes=asterix_nc1
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse_compressed/single_dataverse_compressed.10.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse_compressed/single_dataverse_compressed.10.post.http
index 2adb335..6b713bc 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse_compressed/single_dataverse_compressed.10.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse_compressed/single_dataverse_compressed.10.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&nodes=asterix_nc1%2Casterix_nc2
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse_compressed/single_dataverse_compressed.4.post.http b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse_compressed/single_dataverse_compressed.4.post.http
index f8e3b73..b3897e5 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse_compressed/single_dataverse_compressed.4.post.http
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/rebalance/single_dataverse_compressed/single_dataverse_compressed.4.post.http
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&nodes=%22asterix_nc1%22
+/admin/rebalance?dataverseName=tpch&nodes=asterix_nc1