diff --git a/qcodes/instrument_drivers/tektronix/Keithley_2000.py b/qcodes/instrument_drivers/tektronix/Keithley_2000.py
index d06e8456741..e5ccfb5283d 100644
--- a/qcodes/instrument_drivers/tektronix/Keithley_2000.py
+++ b/qcodes/instrument_drivers/tektronix/Keithley_2000.py
@@ -161,6 +161,10 @@ def __init__(self, name, address, reset=False, **kwargs):
         if reset:
             self.reset()
 
+        # Set the data format to have only ascii data without units and channels
+        self.write('FORM:DATA ASCII')
+        self.write('FORM:ELEM READ')
+
         self.connect_message()
 
     def trigger(self):