diff --git a/py3status/modules/external_script.py b/py3status/modules/external_script.py
index f103c95aca..64bf6a4566 100644
--- a/py3status/modules/external_script.py
+++ b/py3status/modules/external_script.py
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def external_script(self):
             output = ""
 
         response["full_text"] = self.py3.safe_format(
-            self.format, {"output": output, "lines": len(output_lines)}
+            self.format, {"output": self.py3.safe_format(output), "lines": len(output_lines)}
         )
         return response