diff --git a/docs/special_vars.txt b/docs/special_vars.txt
index 81e30a78..a5e376f0 100644
--- a/docs/special_vars.txt
+++ b/docs/special_vars.txt
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ referred to as expandos.  They are special in that the client is
 constantly updating their values automatically.  There are also
 numerous variable modifiers available.
 
-   Modifier          Description                                            
+   Modifier          Description
    $variable         A normal variable, expanding to the first match of:
                      |  1) an internal SET variable
                      |  2) an environment variable
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ numerous variable modifiers available.
                      | The value is padded to meet the width with the
 		     | character given after number (default is space).
 		     | The value is truncated to specified width unless
-		     | '!' character precedes the number.
+		     | '!' character precedes the number. If '.' character
+		     | precedes the number the value isn't padded, just
+		     | truncated.
    $#variable        Expands to the number of words in $variable. If $variable
                      | is omitted, it assumes $*
    $@variable        Expands to the number of characters in $variable. if
diff --git a/src/core/special-vars.c b/src/core/special-vars.c
index 7d4deb78..62202a20 100644
--- a/src/core/special-vars.c
+++ b/src/core/special-vars.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 #define ALIGN_RIGHT 0x01
 #define ALIGN_CUT   0x02
+#define ALIGN_PAD   0x04
 
 #define isvarchar(c) \
         (isalnum(c) || (c) == '_')
@@ -273,7 +274,7 @@ static int get_alignment_args(char **data, int *align, int *flags, char *pad)
 	char *str;
 
 	*align = 0;
-	*flags = ALIGN_CUT;
+	*flags = ALIGN_CUT|ALIGN_PAD;
         *pad = ' ';
 
 	/* '!' = don't cut, '-' = right padding */
@@ -283,6 +284,8 @@ static int get_alignment_args(char **data, int *align, int *flags, char *pad)
 			*flags &= ~ALIGN_CUT;
 		else if (*str == '-')
 			*flags |= ALIGN_RIGHT;
+		else if (*str == '.')
+                         *flags &= ~ALIGN_PAD;
 		str++;
 	}
 	if (!isdigit(*str))
@@ -321,11 +324,13 @@ static char *get_alignment(const char *text, int align, int flags, char pad)
 		g_string_truncate(str, align);
 
 	/* add pad characters */
-	while (str->len < align) {
-		if (flags & ALIGN_RIGHT)
-			g_string_prepend_c(str, pad);
-		else
-			g_string_append_c(str, pad);
+	if (flags & ALIGN_PAD) {
+		while (str->len < align) {
+			if (flags & ALIGN_RIGHT)
+				g_string_prepend_c(str, pad);
+			else
+				g_string_append_c(str, pad);
+		}
 	}
 
 	ret = str->str;
diff --git a/src/fe-text/gui-windows.c b/src/fe-text/gui-windows.c
index 7152a55a..268d0d74 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/gui-windows.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/gui-windows.c
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ static void read_settings(void)
 void gui_windows_init(void)
 {
 	settings_add_int("lookandfeel", "indent", 10);
-	settings_add_str("lookandfeel", "prompt", "[$T] ");
+	settings_add_str("lookandfeel", "prompt", "[$[.15]T] ");
 	settings_add_str("lookandfeel", "prompt_window", "[$winname] ");
 
         prompt = NULL; prompt_window = NULL;