diff --git a/indra/newview/llviewermessage.cpp b/indra/newview/llviewermessage.cpp
index e9f6d7175e..29f3bc62d5 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llviewermessage.cpp
+++ b/indra/newview/llviewermessage.cpp
@@ -2435,6 +2435,8 @@ void process_chat_from_simulator(LLMessageSystem *msg, void **user_data)
 
         color.setVec(1.f,1.f,1.f,1.f);
         msg->getStringFast(_PREHASH_ChatData, _PREHASH_Message, mesg);
+        // Preserve tabs from scripts by expanding them to spaces before any sanitization/formatting.
+        LLStringUtil::replaceTabsWithSpaces(mesg, 4);
 
         bool ircstyle = false;