diff --git a/output_yaml.go b/output_yaml.go
index 0bb9286..d1423c6 100644
--- a/output_yaml.go
+++ b/output_yaml.go
@@ -362,6 +362,11 @@ func needsQuotes(node *yamlv3.Node) bool {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// check if strings starts with a dash
+	if strings.HasPrefix(node.Value, "-") {
+		return true
+	}
+
 	// check if string contains special characters
 	return strings.ContainsAny(node.Value, " *&:,")
 }
diff --git a/output_yaml_test.go b/output_yaml_test.go
index 02fa739..972965d 100644
--- a/output_yaml_test.go
+++ b/output_yaml_test.go
@@ -372,6 +372,7 @@ data:
   bar: true
   and: null
   but: "null"
+  dash: "-"
 `)
 
 			expected := `---
@@ -380,6 +381,7 @@ data:
   bar: true
   and: null
   but: "null"
+  dash: "-"
 `
 
 			var node yamlv3.Node