diff --git a/pipekit/drivers/base.py b/pipekit/drivers/base.py
index 2ab2e97..d9f1ae7 100644
--- a/pipekit/drivers/base.py
+++ b/pipekit/drivers/base.py
@@ -66,11 +66,16 @@ class RemoteColumn:
 # identifiers; reject everything else before it reaches a query.
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-_SAFE_IDENT = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_$#]*$")
+_SAFE_IDENT = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_$#.]*$")
 
 
 def validate_identifier(value: str, field_name: str = "identifier") -> str:
-    if not isinstance(value, str) or not _SAFE_IDENT.match(value):
+    if not isinstance(value, str):
+        raise ValueError(f"invalid {field_name}: {value!r}")
+    # Strip surrounding double quotes — caller should pass the bare name
+    if value.startswith('"') and value.endswith('"') and len(value) > 2:
+        value = value[1:-1]
+    if not _SAFE_IDENT.match(value):
         raise ValueError(f"invalid {field_name}: {value!r}")
     return value