diff --git a/src/__tests__/utils/output.test.ts b/src/__tests__/utils/output.test.ts
index 97c4deb..c8c39e3 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/utils/output.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/utils/output.test.ts
@@ -2,9 +2,22 @@ import {describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach} from 'vitest';
 import fs from 'fs';
 import path from 'path';
 import os from 'os';
-import {serialize, format_from_ext, print} from '../../utils/output';
 
+const mocks = vi.hoisted(()=>({
+    get_config: vi.fn(),
+}));
+vi.mock('../../utils/config', ()=>({
+    get: mocks.get_config,
+}));
+
+import {serialize, format_from_ext, print} from '../../utils/output';
 describe('utils/output.serialize csv', ()=>{
+    beforeEach(()=>{
+        mocks.get_config.mockReturnValue(true);
+    });
+    afterEach(()=>{
+        mocks.get_config.mockReset();
+    });
     it('serializes array of flat objects as RFC 4180 CSV with header row', ()=>{
         const rows = [
             {url: 'https://a.test/1', title: 'A', price: 1.5},
@@ -46,6 +59,42 @@ describe('utils/output.serialize csv', ()=>{
         const lines = out.trim().split('\n');
         expect(lines[1]).toBe('1,"{""tag"":""x""}"');
     });
+    it('sanitizes spreadsheet formula prefixes in CSV string cells', ()=>{
+        const rows = [{
+            equals: '=1+1',
+            space: ' =1+1',
+            multi_space: '   =1+1',
+            tab: '\t=1+1',
+            nbsp: '\u00a0=1+1',
+            plus: '+cmd',
+            minus: '-SUM(A1:A2)',
+            at: '@SUM(A1:A2)',
+        }];
+        const out = serialize(rows, 'csv');
+        expect(out).toContain("'=1+1");
+        expect(out).toContain("' =1+1");
+        expect(out).toContain("'   =1+1");
+        expect(out).toContain("'\t=1+1");
+        expect(out).toContain("'\u00a0=1+1");
+        expect(out).toContain("'+cmd");
+        expect(out).toContain("'-SUM(A1:A2)");
+        expect(out).toContain("'@SUM(A1:A2)");
+    });
+    it('does not sanitize numeric values', ()=>{
+        const out = serialize([{value: -100}], 'csv');
+        const lines = out.trim().split('\n');
+        expect(lines[1]).toBe('-100');
+    });
+    it('preserves numeric-looking CSV strings', ()=>{
+        const out = serialize([{negative: '-100', positive: '+15'}], 'csv');
+        expect(out).toContain('-100,+15');
+    });
+    it('does not sanitize CSV cells when sanitize_csv is false', ()=>{
+        mocks.get_config.mockReturnValue(false);
+        const out = serialize([{value: '=1+1'}], 'csv');
+        expect(out).toContain('=1+1');
+        expect(out).not.toContain("'=1+1");
+    });
 });
 
 describe('utils/output.serialize markdown', ()=>{
diff --git a/src/commands/config.ts b/src/commands/config.ts
index 6a5a6d0..f4c3aa3 100644
--- a/src/commands/config.ts
+++ b/src/commands/config.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ const CONFIG_KEYS: Config_key[] = [
     'default_zone_serp',
     'default_format',
     'api_url',
+    'sanitize_csv',
 ];
 
 const format_keys = ()=>CONFIG_KEYS.join(', ');
@@ -50,12 +51,22 @@ const handle_get_config = (key: string)=>{
         );
         return;
     }
-    process.stdout.write(value+'\n');
+    process.stdout.write(String(value)+'\n');
 };
 
 const handle_set_config = (key: string, value: string)=>{
     const valid_key = ensure_valid_key(key);
-    set_config(valid_key, value);
+    if (valid_key == 'sanitize_csv')
+    {
+        if (value != 'true' && value != 'false')
+        {
+            fail('sanitize_csv must be true or false');
+            return;
+        }
+        set_config(valid_key, value == 'true');
+    }
+    else
+        set_config(valid_key, value);
     success(`Config updated: ${valid_key}=${value}`);
 };
 
diff --git a/src/utils/config.ts b/src/utils/config.ts
index 0efa59b..6323bd5 100644
--- a/src/utils/config.ts
+++ b/src/utils/config.ts
@@ -9,11 +9,17 @@ type Config = {
     default_zone_serp?: string;
     default_format?: string;
     api_url?: string;
+    sanitize_csv?: boolean;
 };
 
+type String_config_key = {
+    [K in keyof Config]-?: Config[K] extends string|undefined ? K : never
+}[keyof Config];
+
 const DEFAULTS: Config = {
     default_format: 'markdown',
     api_url: 'https://api.brightdata.com',
+    sanitize_csv: true,
 };
 
 const load = (): Config=>{
@@ -35,12 +41,12 @@ const save = (config: Config)=>{
     fs.writeFileSync(get_config_path(), JSON.stringify(config, null, 4));
 };
 
-const get = (key: keyof Config): string|undefined=>{
+const get = <K extends keyof Config>(key: K): Config[K]=>{
     const config = load();
     return config[key];
 };
 
-const set = (key: keyof Config, value: string)=>{
+const set = <K extends keyof Config>(key: K, value: Config[K])=>{
     const config = load();
     config[key] = value;
     save(config);
@@ -50,7 +56,7 @@ const set = (key: keyof Config, value: string)=>{
 const resolve = (
     cli_val: string|undefined,
     env_key: string,
-    config_key: keyof Config
+    config_key: String_config_key
 ): string|undefined=>{
     if (cli_val)
         return cli_val;
diff --git a/src/utils/output.ts b/src/utils/output.ts
index 7869d02..a669e4a 100644
--- a/src/utils/output.ts
+++ b/src/utils/output.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import fs from 'fs';
 import path from 'path';
 
+import {get as get_config} from './config';
+
 const is_tty = process.stdout.isTTY === true;
 
 const ansi = (code: string, text: string)=>
@@ -84,10 +86,21 @@ const cell_to_string = (val: unknown): string=>{
     return JSON.stringify(val);
 };
 
+const sanitize_csv_cell = (s: string): string=>{
+    const trimmed = s.trim();
+    if (/^[+-]?(?:\d+(?:\.\d+)?|\.\d+)$/.test(trimmed))
+        return s;
+    if (/^[\s\u00a0]*[=+\-@]/.test(s))
+        return "'" + s;
+    return s;
+};
+
 const csv_escape = (val: unknown): string=>{
-    const s = cell_to_string(val);
+    let s = cell_to_string(val);
+    if (typeof val == 'string' && get_config('sanitize_csv') !== false)
+        s = sanitize_csv_cell(s);
     if (/[",\r\n]/.test(s))
-        return '"'+s.replace(/"/g, '""')+'"';
+        return '"' + s.replace(/"/g, '""') + '"';
     return s;
 };