diff --git a/lib/sys.js b/lib/sys.js
index 9c4dc6d944b..a2070b1fb4a 100644
--- a/lib/sys.js
+++ b/lib/sys.js
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ exports.inherits = process.inherits;
  */
 var formatter = function(value, indent, parents) {
   switch(typeof(value)) {
-    case 'string':    return '"' + value + '"';
+    case 'string':    return JSON.stringify(value);
     case 'number':    return '' + value;
     case 'function':  return '[Function]';
     case 'boolean':   return '' + value;
diff --git a/test/mjsunit/test-sys.js b/test/mjsunit/test-sys.js
index 14ce55157b8..1c114d8d2a3 100644
--- a/test/mjsunit/test-sys.js
+++ b/test/mjsunit/test-sys.js
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ assert.equal("[Function]", inspect(function() {}));
 assert.equal('undefined', inspect(undefined));
 assert.equal('null', inspect(null));
 
+assert.equal("\"\\n\\u0001\"", inspect("\n\u0001"));
+
 assert.equal('[]', inspect([]));
 assert.equal('[\n 1,\n 2\n]', inspect([1, 2]));
 assert.equal('[\n 1,\n [\n  2,\n  3\n ]\n]', inspect([1, [2, 3]]));