diff --git a/implementations/rust/preserves/src/value/text/writer.rs b/implementations/rust/preserves/src/value/text/writer.rs
index edb938b..8ac796d 100644
--- a/implementations/rust/preserves/src/value/text/writer.rs
+++ b/implementations/rust/preserves/src/value/text/writer.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ pub struct TextWriter<W: io::Write> {
     w: Suspendable<W>,
     pub comma_style: CommaStyle,
     pub indentation: usize,
+    pub escape_spaces: bool,
     indent: String,
 }
 
@@ -54,10 +55,16 @@ impl<W: io::Write> TextWriter<W> {
             w: Suspendable::new(w),
             comma_style: CommaStyle::default(),
             indentation: 0,
+            escape_spaces: false,
             indent: "\n".to_owned(),
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn set_escape_spaces(mut self, v: bool) -> Self {
+        self.escape_spaces = v;
+        self
+    }
+
     pub fn suspend(&mut self) -> Self {
         TextWriter { w: self.w.suspend(), indent: self.indent.clone(), .. *self }
     }
@@ -229,6 +236,7 @@ impl<W: io::Write> Writer for TextWriter<W> {
         for c in v.chars() {
             match c {
                 '"' => write!(self.w, "\\\"")?,
+                ' ' if self.escape_spaces => write!(self.w, "\\u0020")?,
                 _ => self.write_stringlike_char(c)?,
             }
         }
@@ -249,6 +257,7 @@ impl<W: io::Write> Writer for TextWriter<W> {
             for c in v.chars() {
                 match c {
                     '|' => write!(self.w, "\\|")?,
+                    ' ' if self.escape_spaces => write!(self.w, "\\u0020")?,
                     _ => self.write_stringlike_char(c)?,
                 }
             }