diff --git a/src/mplhep/label.py b/src/mplhep/label.py
index 5cb28215..5467b7a8 100644
--- a/src/mplhep/label.py
+++ b/src/mplhep/label.py
@@ -403,11 +403,19 @@ def exp_label(
             _com_label = r"\mathrm{13\ TeV}"
 
         if lumi is not None:
-            _lumi = (
-                r"$\sqrt{s} = " + _com_label + ", " + str(lumi) + r"\ \mathrm{fb}^{-1}$"
+            _lumi = r"{com}, {lumi}".format(
+                com=r"$\sqrt{s} = \mathrm{" + str(com) + r"\ TeV}$"
+                if com is not None
+                else r"$\sqrt{s} = \mathrm{13\ TeV}$",
+                lumi=lumi_format.format(lumi) + r" $\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$",
             )
         else:
-            _lumi = r"$\sqrt{s} = " + _com_label + "$"
+            _lumi = r"{com}".format(
+                com=r"$\sqrt{s} = \mathrm{" + str(com) + r"\ TeV}$"
+                if com is not None
+                else r"$\sqrt{s} = \mathrm{13\ TeV}$",
+            )
+
         explumi = ExpSuffix(
             *exptext.get_position(),
             text=rlabel if rlabel is not None else _lumi,
diff --git a/tests/baseline/test_label_loc.png b/tests/baseline/test_label_loc.png
index f5766e46..91c405cd 100644
Binary files a/tests/baseline/test_label_loc.png and b/tests/baseline/test_label_loc.png differ
diff --git a/tests/baseline/test_pub_loc.png b/tests/baseline/test_pub_loc.png
index 7afee857..6b739fbc 100644
Binary files a/tests/baseline/test_pub_loc.png and b/tests/baseline/test_pub_loc.png differ