diff --git a/proc/escape.c b/proc/escape.c
index 62131d12..880dfd95 100644
--- a/proc/escape.c
+++ b/proc/escape.c
@@ -222,10 +222,10 @@ int escape_command(char *restrict const outbuf, const proc_t *restrict const pp,
 
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-// copy an already 'escaped' string,
+// copy a string, but 'escape' any control characters
 // using the traditional escape.h calling conventions
 int escaped_copy(char *restrict dst, const char *restrict src, int bufsize, int *maxroom){
-  int n;
+  int i, n;
 
   SECURE_ESCAPE_ARGS(dst, bufsize, *maxroom);
   if (bufsize > *maxroom+1) bufsize = *maxroom+1;
@@ -236,6 +236,12 @@ int escaped_copy(char *restrict dst, const char *restrict src, int bufsize, int
     return 0;
   }
   if (n >= bufsize) n = bufsize-1;
+
+  // control chars, especially tabs, create alignment problems for ps & top ...
+  for (i = 0; i < n; i++)
+    if ((unsigned char)dst[i] < 0x20 || dst[i] == 0x7f)
+      dst[i] = '?';
+
   *maxroom -= n;
   return n;
 }
diff --git a/proc/readproc.c b/proc/readproc.c
index 1c503a50..84ad9af2 100644
--- a/proc/readproc.c
+++ b/proc/readproc.c
@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@ static void fill_cgroup_cvt (const char* directory, proc_t *restrict p) {
         len = snprintf(dst, vMAX, "%s", (dst > dst_buffer) ? "," : "");
         if (len < 0 || len >= vMAX) break;
         dst += len;
-        dst += escape_str(dst, grp, vMAX, &whackable_int);
+        dst += escaped_copy(dst, grp, vMAX, &whackable_int);
     }
     p->cgroup = vectorize_this_str(dst_buffer[0] ? dst_buffer : "-");
 
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ static void fill_cmdline_cvt (const char* directory, proc_t *restrict p) {
     int whackable_int = MAX_BUFSZ;
 
     if (read_unvectored(src_buffer, MAX_BUFSZ, directory, "cmdline", ' '))
-        escape_str(dst_buffer, src_buffer, MAX_BUFSZ, &whackable_int);
+        escaped_copy(dst_buffer, src_buffer, MAX_BUFSZ, &whackable_int);
     else
         escape_command(dst_buffer, p, MAX_BUFSZ, &whackable_int, uFLG);
     p->cmdline = vectorize_this_str(dst_buffer);
@@ -876,7 +876,7 @@ static void fill_environ_cvt (const char* directory, proc_t *restrict p) {
 
     dst_buffer[0] = '\0';
     if (read_unvectored(src_buffer, MAX_BUFSZ, directory, "environ", ' '))
-        escape_str(dst_buffer, src_buffer, MAX_BUFSZ, &whackable_int);
+        escaped_copy(dst_buffer, src_buffer, MAX_BUFSZ, &whackable_int);
     p->environ = vectorize_this_str(dst_buffer[0] ? dst_buffer : "-");
 }