diff --git a/go/vt/sqlparser/ast_format.go b/go/vt/sqlparser/ast_format.go
index 6cfda1e4d06..2169e76a047 100644
--- a/go/vt/sqlparser/ast_format.go
+++ b/go/vt/sqlparser/ast_format.go
@@ -464,7 +464,14 @@ func (ct *ColumnType) Format(buf *TrackedBuffer) {
 		}
 	}
 	if ct.Options.Default != nil {
-		buf.astPrintf(ct, " %s %v", keywordStrings[DEFAULT], ct.Options.Default)
+		buf.astPrintf(ct, " %s", keywordStrings[DEFAULT])
+		_, isLiteral := ct.Options.Default.(*Literal)
+		_, isNullVal := ct.Options.Default.(*NullVal)
+		if isLiteral || isNullVal {
+			buf.astPrintf(ct, " %v", String(ct.Options.Default))
+		} else {
+			buf.astPrintf(ct, " (%v)", String(ct.Options.Default))
+		}
 	}
 	if ct.Options.OnUpdate != nil {
 		buf.astPrintf(ct, " %s %s %v", keywordStrings[ON], keywordStrings[UPDATE], ct.Options.OnUpdate)
diff --git a/go/vt/sqlparser/ast_format_fast.go b/go/vt/sqlparser/ast_format_fast.go
index 5746f5106c8..0dc69be1059 100644
--- a/go/vt/sqlparser/ast_format_fast.go
+++ b/go/vt/sqlparser/ast_format_fast.go
@@ -664,8 +664,16 @@ func (ct *ColumnType) formatFast(buf *TrackedBuffer) {
 	if ct.Options.Default != nil {
 		buf.WriteByte(' ')
 		buf.WriteString(keywordStrings[DEFAULT])
-		buf.WriteByte(' ')
-		ct.Options.Default.formatFast(buf)
+		_, isLiteral := ct.Options.Default.(*Literal)
+		_, isNullVal := ct.Options.Default.(*NullVal)
+		if isLiteral || isNullVal {
+			buf.WriteByte(' ')
+			buf.WriteString(String(ct.Options.Default))
+		} else {
+			buf.WriteString(" (")
+			buf.WriteString(String(ct.Options.Default))
+			buf.WriteByte(')')
+		}
 	}
 	if ct.Options.OnUpdate != nil {
 		buf.WriteByte(' ')