diff --git a/models/record.go b/models/record.go
index 4635d6eb8e..ff60bc9917 100644
--- a/models/record.go
+++ b/models/record.go
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ func (rc *RecordConfig) ToComparableNoTTL() string {
 		// SoaSerial is not included because it isn't used in comparisons.
 	case "TXT":
 		// fmt.Fprintf(os.Stdout, "DEBUG: ToComNoTTL raw txts=%s q=%q\n", rc.target, rc.target)
-		r := txtutil.EncodeQuoted(rc.target)
+		r := txtutil.EncodeSingle(rc.target)
 		// fmt.Fprintf(os.Stdout, "DEBUG: ToComNoTTL cmp txts=%s q=%q\n", r, r)
 		return r
 	case "LUA":
diff --git a/pkg/txtutil/txtcode.go b/pkg/txtutil/txtcode.go
index b5b1afb3b6..b412b6b4c5 100644
--- a/pkg/txtutil/txtcode.go
+++ b/pkg/txtutil/txtcode.go
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@ func EncodeQuoted(t string) string {
 	return txtEncode(ToChunks(t))
 }
 
+// EncodeSingle encodes a string as a single quoted value without splitting
+// into 255-octet chunks. This is intended for user-facing display (e.g., diff
+// preview) where the chunked representation is confusing.
+func EncodeSingle(t string) string {
+	return txtEncode([]string{t})
+}
+
 // State denotes the parser state.
 type State int