(hack-local-variables-confirm):

Display string value using its printed representation.

diff --git a/lisp/files.el b/lisp/files.el
index b4bc8f9ffec2e87ea9fe38921989d3fcb2af44a9..91f857dd2ec107e01e5813606aeb62b2c78d0cf5 100644 (file)
--- a/lisp/files.el
+++ b/lisp/files.el
@@ -2406,7 +2406,11 @@ n  -- to ignore the local variables list.")
                   (insert "    ")))
            (princ (car elt) buf)
            (insert " : ")
-           (princ (cdr elt) buf)
+            (if (stringp (cdr elt))
+                ;; Make strings with embedded whitespace easier to read.
+                (let ((print-escape-newlines t))
+                  (prin1 (cdr elt) buf))
+              (princ (cdr elt) buf))
            (insert "\n"))
          (setq prompt
                (format "Please type %s%s: "