diff --git a/top/top.1 b/top/top.1
index 6620d632..3d8c2d64 100644
--- a/top/top.1
+++ b/top/top.1
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
 .
 .\" Document /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 .\" ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-.TH TOP 1 "November 2012" "procps-ng" "User Commands"
+.TH TOP 1 "January 2013" "procps-ng" "User Commands"
 .\" ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 .\" ----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1662,6 +1662,10 @@ available in \*(AM if the \*(CW's \*(TD has been toggled \*F.
 filtering \*F to ensure that every task is encountered.
 \*(XC 'i' and 'u/U' \*(CIs for additional information on how displayed tasks
 might be filtered.
+Additionally, \*(We will turn column highlighting \*F to prevent false
+matches on internal non-display escape sequences.
+Such highlighting will be restored when a window's search string is empty.
+\*(XC 'x' \*(CI for additional information on sort column highlighting.
 
 .\" ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 .SH 6. FILES
diff --git a/top/top.c b/top/top.c
index 1257f4de..92ea0f37 100644
--- a/top/top.c
+++ b/top/top.c
@@ -3123,6 +3123,9 @@ static void configs_read (void) {
                   goto default_or_error;
                break;
          }
+#ifndef USE_X_COLHDR
+         OFFw(w, NOHICOL_xxx);
+#endif
       } // end: for (GROUPSMAX)
 
       // any new addition(s) last, for older rcfiles compatibility...
@@ -3766,6 +3769,10 @@ static void find_string (int ch) {
       snprintf(Curwin->findstr, FNDBUFSIZ, "%s", linein(N_txt(GET_find_str_txt)));
       Curwin->findlen = strlen(Curwin->findstr);
       found = 0;
+#ifndef USE_X_COLHDR
+      if (Curwin->findstr[0]) SETw(Curwin, NOHICOL_xxx);
+      else OFFw(Curwin, NOHICOL_xxx);
+#endif
    }
    if (Curwin->findstr[0]) {
       SETw(Curwin, INFINDS_xxx);
@@ -4626,7 +4633,7 @@ static const char *task_show (const WIN_t *q, const proc_t *p) {
          case X_XON:
          case X_XOF:
             cp = NULL;
-            if (!CHKw(q, INFINDS_xxx)) {
+            if (!CHKw(q, INFINDS_xxx | NOHICOL_xxx)) {
                /* treat running tasks specially - entire row may get highlighted
                   so we needn't turn it on and we MUST NOT turn it off */
                if (!('R' == p->state && CHKw(q, Show_HIROWS)))
diff --git a/top/top.h b/top/top.h
index 4ef4efc5..2474536e 100644
--- a/top/top.h
+++ b/top/top.h
@@ -298,6 +298,9 @@ typedef struct CPU_t {
         // these flag(s) have no command as such - they're for internal use
 #define INFINDS_xxx  0x010000     // build rows for find_string, not display
 #define EQUWINS_xxx  0x000001     // rebalance all wins & tasks (off i,n,u/U)
+#ifndef USE_X_COLHDR
+#define NOHICOL_xxx  0x100000     // must restrict Show_HICOLS temporarily
+#endif
 
         // Default flags if there's no rcfile to provide user customizations
 #define DEF_WINFLGS ( View_LOADAV | View_STATES | View_CPUSUM | View_MEMORY \