diff --git a/hyptop/table.h b/hyptop/table.h
index 34e42940..87d9f791 100644
--- a/hyptop/table.h
+++ b/hyptop/table.h
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ struct table_col_priv {
 	char		head_char[2];
 	char		head_last[TABLE_HEADING_SIZE];
 	int		rsort;
+	int		needs_quotes;
 };
 
 /*
@@ -135,6 +136,11 @@ static inline int table_col_enabled(struct table_col *col)
 	return col->p->enabled;
 }
 
+static inline int table_col_needs_quotes(struct table_col *col)
+{
+	return col->p->needs_quotes;
+}
+
 /*
  * Table Column Constructor Macros
  */
diff --git a/hyptop/table_col_unit.c b/hyptop/table_col_unit.c
index 630ad5d1..0f460ab2 100644
--- a/hyptop/table_col_unit.c
+++ b/hyptop/table_col_unit.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ static int l_unit_raw(struct table_col *col, struct table_entry *e)
  */
 static int l_str(struct table_col *col, struct table_entry *e)
 {
-	(void) col;
+	col->p->needs_quotes = 1;
 	return strlen(e->str);
 }
 
@@ -226,6 +226,8 @@ static int l_unit_hm_u64(char *str, u64 v1, int negative)
 
 static int l_unit_hm(struct table_col *col, struct table_entry *e)
 {
+	col->p->needs_quotes = 1;
+
 	if (!e->set)
 		return snprintf(e->str, sizeof(e->str), L_COL_NOT_SET_STR);
 
@@ -272,6 +274,8 @@ static int l_unit_dhm_u64(char *str, u64 v1, int negative)
 
 static int l_unit_dhm(struct table_col *col, struct table_entry *e)
 {
+	col->p->needs_quotes = 1;
+
 	if (!e->set)
 		return snprintf(e->str, sizeof(e->str), L_COL_NOT_SET_STR);