diff --git a/src/config/preferences.c b/src/config/preferences.c
index 7ae9695e..6d63d3e9 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.c
+++ b/src/config/preferences.c
@@ -376,6 +376,60 @@ prefs_get_roster_size(void)
     }
 }
 
+char
+prefs_get_otr_char(void)
+{
+    char result = '~';
+
+    char *resultstr = g_key_file_get_string(prefs, PREF_GROUP_OTR, "otr.char", NULL);
+    if (!resultstr) {
+        result =  '~';
+    } else {
+        result = resultstr[0];
+    }
+    free(resultstr);
+
+    return result;
+}
+
+void
+prefs_set_otr_char(char ch)
+{
+    char str[2];
+    str[0] = ch;
+    str[1] = '\0';
+
+    g_key_file_set_string(prefs, PREF_GROUP_OTR, "otr.char", str);
+    _save_prefs();
+}
+
+char
+prefs_get_pgp_char(void)
+{
+    char result = '~';
+
+    char *resultstr = g_key_file_get_string(prefs, PREF_GROUP_PGP, "pgp.char", NULL);
+    if (!resultstr) {
+        result =  '~';
+    } else {
+        result = resultstr[0];
+    }
+    free(resultstr);
+
+    return result;
+}
+
+void
+prefs_set_pgp_char(char ch)
+{
+    char str[2];
+    str[0] = ch;
+    str[1] = '\0';
+
+    g_key_file_set_string(prefs, PREF_GROUP_PGP, "pgp.char", str);
+    _save_prefs();
+}
+
 gboolean
 prefs_add_alias(const char * const name, const char * const value)
 {
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.h b/src/config/preferences.h
index f479f7a6..2a7ab5bf 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.h
+++ b/src/config/preferences.h
@@ -143,6 +143,11 @@ gint prefs_get_roster_size(void);
 gint prefs_get_autoaway_time(void);
 void prefs_set_autoaway_time(gint value);
 
+char prefs_get_otr_char(void);
+void prefs_set_otr_char(char ch);
+char prefs_get_pgp_char(void);
+void prefs_set_pgp_char(char ch);
+
 void prefs_add_login(const char *jid);
 
 gboolean prefs_add_alias(const char * const name, const char * const value);
diff --git a/src/ui/core.c b/src/ui/core.c
index f416a448..d66806d4 100644
--- a/src/ui/core.c
+++ b/src/ui/core.c
@@ -1291,9 +1291,9 @@ ui_outgoing_chat_msg(ProfChatWin *chatwin, const char * const message, char *id,
 {
     char enc_char = '-';
     if (enc_mode == PROF_ENC_OTR) {
-        enc_char = 'O';
+        enc_char = prefs_get_otr_char();
     } else if (enc_mode == PROF_ENC_PGP) {
-        enc_char = 'P';
+        enc_char = prefs_get_pgp_char();
     }
 
     if (prefs_get_boolean(PREF_RECEIPTS_REQUEST) && id) {
diff --git a/src/ui/window.c b/src/ui/window.c
index 808ad825..f6ad7cee 100644
--- a/src/ui/window.c
+++ b/src/ui/window.c
@@ -885,9 +885,9 @@ win_print_incoming_message(ProfWin *window, GDateTime *timestamp,
     {
         case WIN_CHAT:
             if (enc_mode == PROF_ENC_OTR) {
-                enc_char = 'O';
+                enc_char = prefs_get_otr_char();
             } else if (enc_mode == PROF_ENC_PGP) {
-                enc_char = 'P';
+                enc_char = prefs_get_pgp_char();
             }
             win_print(window, enc_char, 0, timestamp, NO_ME, THEME_TEXT_THEM, from, message);
             break;