diff --git a/user/lib.php b/user/lib.php
index c89784fac3e18..31e20f6afbf79 100644
--- a/user/lib.php
+++ b/user/lib.php
@@ -335,8 +335,17 @@ function user_get_user_details($user, $course = null, array $userfields = array(
             $newfield = 'profile_field_'.$field->datatype;
             $formfield = new $newfield($field->id, $user->id);
             if ($formfield->is_visible() and !$formfield->is_empty()) {
+
+                // We only use display_data in fields that require text formatting.
+                if ($field->datatype == 'text' or $field->datatype == 'textarea') {
+                    $fieldvalue = $formfield->display_data();
+                } else {
+                    // Cases: datetime, checkbox and menu.
+                    $fieldvalue = $formfield->data;
+                }
+
                 $userdetails['customfields'][] =
-                    array('name' => $formfield->field->name, 'value' => $formfield->data,
+                    array('name' => $formfield->field->name, 'value' => $fieldvalue,
                         'type' => $field->datatype, 'shortname' => $formfield->field->shortname);
             }
         }