diff --git a/panel-plugin/netload.c b/panel-plugin/netload.c
index 95811df..d223a50 100644
--- a/panel-plugin/netload.c
+++ b/panel-plugin/netload.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /*
  * Copyright 2003-2007 Bernhard Walle <bernhard@bwalle.de>
  * Copyright 2010 Florian Rivoal <frivoal@gmail.com>
+ * Copyright 2014 OmegaPhil <OmegaPhil@startmail.com>
  * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * 
  *  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
@@ -238,11 +239,11 @@ static gboolean update_monitors(t_global_monitor *global)
         if (global->monitor->options.show_bars)
             gtk_progress_bar_set_fraction(GTK_PROGRESS_BAR(global->monitor->status[i]), temp);
 
-        format_byte_humanreadable( buffer[i], BUFSIZ, display[i], 2 );
-        format_byte_humanreadable( buffer_panel[i], BUFSIZ, display[i], 0 );
+        format_byte_humanreadable( buffer[i], BUFSIZ, display[i], 2, 2 );
+        format_byte_humanreadable( buffer_panel[i], BUFSIZ, display[i], 0, 2 );
     }
     
-    format_byte_humanreadable( buffer[TOT], BUFSIZ, (display[IN]+display[OUT]), 2 );
+    format_byte_humanreadable( buffer[TOT], BUFSIZ, (display[IN]+display[OUT]), 2, 2 );
     
     {
         char* ip = get_ip_address(&(global->monitor->data));
diff --git a/panel-plugin/utils.c b/panel-plugin/utils.c
index 30647af..b39905d 100644
--- a/panel-plugin/utils.c
+++ b/panel-plugin/utils.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * Copyright 2003, 2005 Bernhard Walle <bernhard@bwalle.de>
+ * Copyright 2014 OmegaPhil <OmegaPhil@startmail.com>
  * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * 
  *  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ unsigned long max_array( unsigned long array[], int size )
 
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
-char* format_byte_humanreadable(char* string, int stringsize, double number, int digits)
+char* format_byte_humanreadable(char* string, int stringsize, double number, int digitssmall, int digitslarge)
 {
     char* str = string;
     char buffer[BUFSIZ], formatstring[BUFSIZ];
@@ -79,22 +80,32 @@ char* format_byte_humanreadable(char* string, int stringsize, double number, int
     unsigned int uidx = 1;
     double number_displayed = number / 1024.0;
     unsigned int i;
-    int numberOfIntegerChars, count;
+    int numberOfIntegerChars, count, digits;
     struct lconv* localeinfo = localeconv();
     int grouping = (int)localeinfo->grouping[0] == 0 ? INT_MAX : (int)localeinfo->grouping[0];
-    
-    
+
+    /* determining digits length to use based on whether the number is
+     * 'large' (>= 1MiB) or 'small' - this allows to keep sufficient
+     * detail when reporting on large amounts of data
+     * no digits for smallest unit size */
+    if (number <= 1024.0)
+    {
+        digits = 0;
+    }
+    else if (number < (1024.0 * 1024.0))
+    {
+        digits = digitssmall;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        digits = digitslarge;
+    }
+
     /* sensible value for digits */
     if (digits < 0 || digits >= 10)
     {
         digits = 2;
     }
-    
-    /* no digits for smallest unit size */
-    if (number <= 1024.0)
-    {
-        digits = 0;
-    }
 
     /* calculate number and appropriate unit size for display */
     while(number_displayed >= 1024.0 && uidx < sizeof(unit_names))
diff --git a/panel-plugin/utils.h b/panel-plugin/utils.h
index 1da6a9b..0735c18 100644
--- a/panel-plugin/utils.h
+++ b/panel-plugin/utils.h
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /*  XFce 4 - Netload Plugin
  *    Copyright (c) 2003,2005 Bernhard Walle <bernhard.walle@gmx.de>
+ *    Copyright (c) 2014 OmegaPhil <OmegaPhil@startmail.com>
  * 
  *  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
  *  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -29,10 +30,15 @@
  * @param   string      a character array in which the result is stored
  * @param   stringsize  the size of the character array
  * @param   number      the number that should be formatted
- * @param   digits      the number of digits after the decimal point
+ * @param   digitssmall the number of digits after the decimal point for
+ *                      a 'small' number (currently less than 1 MiB)
+ * @param   digitslarge the number of digits after the decimal point for
+ *                      a 'large' number (currently 1 MiB or more). This
+ *                      is intended to report greater detail for larger
+ *                      numbers
  * @return  the string to allow concatening buffers or <code>null</code>
  */
-char* format_byte_humanreadable( char* string, int stringsize, double number, int digits );
+char* format_byte_humanreadable( char* string, int stringsize, double number, int digitssmall, int digitslarge );
 
 /**
  * Returns the minimum of the array. The array must contain at least one element.