diff --git a/handlebars/src/main/java/com/github/jknack/handlebars/internal/Variable.java b/handlebars/src/main/java/com/github/jknack/handlebars/internal/Variable.java
index 9d447ef93..97b58cbc7 100644
--- a/handlebars/src/main/java/com/github/jknack/handlebars/internal/Variable.java
+++ b/handlebars/src/main/java/com/github/jknack/handlebars/internal/Variable.java
@@ -225,12 +225,17 @@ protected void collect(final Collection<String> result, final TagType tagType) {
    */
   protected CharSequence formatAndEscape(final Object value, final Formatter.Chain formatter) {
     Object formatted = formatter.format(value);
-    CharSequence formattedString = formatted.toString();
+    CharSequence formattedCharSequence;
+    if (value instanceof CharSequence) {
+      formattedCharSequence = (CharSequence) value;
+    } else {
+      formattedCharSequence = formatted.toString();
+    }
     if (formatted instanceof Handlebars.SafeString) {
-        return formattedString;
+        return formattedCharSequence;
     }
-    CharSequence escapedString = escapingStrategy.escape(formattedString);
-    return escapedString;
+    CharSequence escapedCharSequence = escapingStrategy.escape(formattedCharSequence);
+    return escapedCharSequence;
   }
 
   @Override