diff --git a/json_object.c b/json_object.c
index d0aba48..e6bd870 100644
--- a/json_object.c
+++ b/json_object.c
@@ -300,7 +300,14 @@ static void indent(struct printbuf *pb, int level, int flags)
 {
 	if (flags & JSON_C_TO_STRING_PRETTY)
 	{
-		printbuf_memset(pb, -1, ' ', level * 2);
+		if (flags & JSON_C_TO_STRING_PRETTY_TAB)
+		{
+			printbuf_memset(pb, -1, '\t', level);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			printbuf_memset(pb, -1, ' ', level * 2);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/json_object.h b/json_object.h
index 2bdfd5f..5e0cf71 100644
--- a/json_object.h
+++ b/json_object.h
@@ -50,6 +50,14 @@ extern "C" {
  * for an example of the format.
  */
 #define JSON_C_TO_STRING_PRETTY     (1<<1)
+/**
+ * A flag for the json_object_to_json_string_ext() and
+ * json_object_to_file_ext() functions which causes
+ * the output to be formatted.
+ *
+ * Instead of a "Two Space Tab" this gives a single tab character.
+ */
+#define JSON_C_TO_STRING_PRETTY_TAB (1<<3)
 /**
  * A flag to drop trailing zero for float values
  */