diff --git a/frappy/gui/moduleoverview.py b/frappy/gui/moduleoverview.py
index f26ea540..92a065e7 100644
--- a/frappy/gui/moduleoverview.py
+++ b/frappy/gui/moduleoverview.py
@@ -75,7 +75,13 @@ class ModuleItem(QTreeWidgetItem):
             self.setIcon(self.display[parameter], ModuleItem.statusIcon(value.value[0].value))
             self.setText(self.display['status/text'], value.value[1])
         else:
-            self.setText(self.display[parameter], '%s%s' % (str(value), self._unit))
+            # TODO: stopgap
+            if value.readerror:
+                strvalue = str(value)
+            else:
+                strvalue = ('%g' if isinstance(value.value, float)
+                            else '%s') % (value.value,)
+            self.setText(self.display[parameter], '%s %s' % (strvalue, self._unit))
 
     def disconnected(self):
         self.setIcon(self.display['status'], ModuleItem.icons['unknown'])
diff --git a/frappy/gui/modulewidget.py b/frappy/gui/modulewidget.py
index 2660d847..099e8d73 100644
--- a/frappy/gui/modulewidget.py
+++ b/frappy/gui/modulewidget.py
@@ -132,7 +132,13 @@ class ModuleWidget(QWidget):
         if mod != self._name:
             return
         if param in self._paramDisplays:
-            self._paramDisplays[param].setText(str(val.value))
+            # TODO: stopgap
+            if val.readerror:
+                strvalue = str(val)
+            else:
+                strvalue = ('%g' if isinstance(val.value, float)
+                            else '%s') % (val.value,)
+            self._paramDisplays[param].setText(strvalue)
 
     def _addRParam(self, param, row):
         props = self._node.getProperties(self._name, param)