diff --git a/configmap/hash-gen/main.go b/configmap/hash-gen/main.go
index 72230b545..8d9b7bfe0 100644
--- a/configmap/hash-gen/main.go
+++ b/configmap/hash-gen/main.go
@@ -85,9 +85,10 @@ func process(data []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	if existingAnnotation != nil {
 		existingAnnotation.Value = checksum
 	} else {
+		sumNode := strNode(checksum)
+		sumNode.Style = yaml.DoubleQuotedStyle
 		annotations.Content = append(annotations.Content,
-			strNode(configmap.ExampleChecksumAnnotation),
-			strNode(checksum))
+			strNode(configmap.ExampleChecksumAnnotation), sumNode)
 	}
 
 	var buffer bytes.Buffer
diff --git a/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/add_want.yaml b/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/add_want.yaml
index 31ae5e63e..083055bc6 100644
--- a/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/add_want.yaml
+++ b/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/add_want.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     serving.knative.dev/release: devel
   annotations:
-    knative.dev/example-checksum: 05d48218
+    knative.dev/example-checksum: "05d48218"
 data:
   leave-me: "alone"
   _example: |
diff --git a/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/update.yaml b/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/update.yaml
index 1e5874f6d..1a717ae49 100644
--- a/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/update.yaml
+++ b/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/update.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     serving.knative.dev/release: devel
   annotations:
-    knative.dev/example-checksum: bla
+    knative.dev/example-checksum: "bla"
 data:
   leave-me: "alone"
   _example: |
diff --git a/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/update_want.yaml b/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/update_want.yaml
index 31ae5e63e..083055bc6 100644
--- a/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/update_want.yaml
+++ b/configmap/hash-gen/testdata/update_want.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     serving.knative.dev/release: devel
   annotations:
-    knative.dev/example-checksum: 05d48218
+    knative.dev/example-checksum: "05d48218"
 data:
   leave-me: "alone"
   _example: |