diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py b/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py
index 6fad97d312..82d2777830 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py
@@ -499,13 +499,14 @@ class TemplateFormatter(string.Formatter):
 
     ########## a formatter that throws exceptions ############
 
-    def unsafe_format(self, fmt, kwargs, book):
+    def unsafe_format(self, fmt, kwargs, book, strip_results=True):
+        self.strip_results = strip_results
         self.column_name = self.template_cache = None
         self.kwargs = kwargs
         self.book = book
         self.composite_values = {}
         self.locals = {}
-        return self.evaluate(fmt, [], kwargs).strip()
+        return self.evaluate(fmt, [], kwargs)
 
     ########## a formatter guaranteed not to throw an exception ############