diff --git a/usr.bin/top/machine.c b/usr.bin/top/machine.c
index 476432e5db0c..c7b3e13c700b 100644
--- a/usr.bin/top/machine.c
+++ b/usr.bin/top/machine.c
@@ -1016,7 +1016,7 @@ format_next_process(struct handle * xhandle, char *(*get_userid)(int), int flags
 				len = (argbuflen - (dst - argbuf) - 1) / 4;
 				strvisx(dst, src,
 				    MIN(strlen(src), len),
-				    VIS_NL | VIS_CSTYLE | VIS_OCTAL | VIS_SAFE);
+				    VIS_NL | VIS_TAB | VIS_CSTYLE | VIS_OCTAL);
 				while (*dst != '\0')
 					dst++;
 				if ((argbuflen - (dst - argbuf) - 1) / 4 > 0)