diff --git a/src/command/cmd_funcs.c b/src/command/cmd_funcs.c
index 58c08331..734401f4 100644
--- a/src/command/cmd_funcs.c
+++ b/src/command/cmd_funcs.c
@@ -4414,8 +4414,8 @@ cmd_occupants(ProfWin* window, const char* const command, gchar** args)
 
             occupantswin_occupants_all();
         } else {
-            prefs_set_occupants_char(args[1][0]);
-            cons_show("Occupants char set to %c.", args[1][0]);
+            prefs_set_occupants_char(args[1]);
+            cons_show("Occupants char set to %s.", args[1]);
 
             occupantswin_occupants_all();
         }
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.c b/src/config/preferences.c
index b1686424..fae150c8 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.c
+++ b/src/config/preferences.c
@@ -902,30 +902,23 @@ prefs_get_occupants_size(void)
     }
 }
 
-char
+char*
 prefs_get_occupants_char(void)
 {
-    char result = 0;
 
-    char* resultstr = g_key_file_get_string(prefs, PREF_GROUP_UI, "occupants.char", NULL);
-    if (!resultstr) {
-        result = 0;
-    } else {
-        result = resultstr[0];
-    }
-    free(resultstr);
+    char* result = g_key_file_get_string(prefs, PREF_GROUP_UI, "occupants.char", NULL);
 
     return result;
 }
 
 void
-prefs_set_occupants_char(char ch)
+prefs_set_occupants_char(char* ch)
 {
-    char str[2];
-    str[0] = ch;
-    str[1] = '\0';
-
-    g_key_file_set_string(prefs, PREF_GROUP_UI, "occupants.char", str);
+    if (g_utf8_strlen(ch, 4) == 1) {
+        g_key_file_set_string(prefs, PREF_GROUP_UI, "occupants.char", ch);
+    } else {
+        log_error("Could not set roster resource char: %s", ch);
+    }
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.h b/src/config/preferences.h
index aec27094..1f8df60d 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.h
+++ b/src/config/preferences.h
@@ -272,8 +272,8 @@ void prefs_clear_roster_room_char(void);
 char* prefs_get_roster_room_private_char(void);
 void prefs_set_roster_room_private_char(char* ch);
 void prefs_clear_roster_room_private_char(void);
-char prefs_get_occupants_char(void);
-void prefs_set_occupants_char(char ch);
+char* prefs_get_occupants_char(void);
+void prefs_set_occupants_char(char* ch);
 void prefs_clear_occupants_char(void);
 char prefs_get_occupants_header_char(void);
 void prefs_set_occupants_header_char(char ch);
diff --git a/src/config/theme.c b/src/config/theme.c
index 118cbaa2..1af68afd 100644
--- a/src/config/theme.c
+++ b/src/config/theme.c
@@ -406,8 +406,8 @@ _load_preferences(void)
     // with custom set functions
     if (g_key_file_has_key(theme, "ui", "occupants.char", NULL)) {
         gchar* ch = g_key_file_get_string(theme, "ui", "occupants.char", NULL);
-        if (ch && strlen(ch) > 0) {
-            prefs_set_occupants_char(ch[0]);
+        if (ch && g_utf8_strlen(ch, 4) == 1) {
+            prefs_set_occupants_char(ch);
             g_free(ch);
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/ui/console.c b/src/ui/console.c
index a20d9fce..3ca981ba 100644
--- a/src/ui/console.c
+++ b/src/ui/console.c
@@ -1340,11 +1340,13 @@ cons_occupants_setting(void)
     else
         cons_show("Occupants wrap (/occupants)         : OFF");
 
-    char occupants_ch = prefs_get_occupants_char();
-    if (occupants_ch)
-        cons_show("Occupants char (/occupants)         : %c", occupants_ch);
-    else
+    char* occupants_ch = prefs_get_occupants_char();
+    if (occupants_ch) {
+        cons_show("Occupants char (/occupants)         : %s", occupants_ch);
+        free(occupants_ch);
+    } else {
         cons_show("Occupants char (/occupants)         : none");
+    }
 
     gint occupant_indent = prefs_get_occupants_indent();
     cons_show("Occupant indent (/occupants)        : %d", occupant_indent);
@@ -1509,7 +1511,7 @@ cons_roster_setting(void)
 
     char* room_priv_ch = prefs_get_roster_room_private_char();
     if (room_priv_ch) {
-        cons_show("Roster room private char (/roster)  : %c", room_priv_ch);
+        cons_show("Roster room private char (/roster)  : %s", room_priv_ch);
         free(room_priv_ch);
     } else {
         cons_show("Roster room private char (/roster)  : none");
@@ -1517,7 +1519,7 @@ cons_roster_setting(void)
 
     char* private_ch = prefs_get_roster_private_char();
     if (private_ch) {
-        cons_show("Roster private char (/roster)       : %c", private_ch);
+        cons_show("Roster private char (/roster)       : %s", private_ch);
         free(private_ch);
     } else {
         cons_show("Roster private char (/roster)       : none");
diff --git a/src/ui/occupantswin.c b/src/ui/occupantswin.c
index 4ceb5575..8d06de0e 100644
--- a/src/ui/occupantswin.c
+++ b/src/ui/occupantswin.c
@@ -77,9 +77,10 @@ _occuptantswin_occupant(ProfLayoutSplit* layout, GList* item, gboolean showjid,
 
     GString* msg = g_string_new(spaces->str);
 
-    char ch = prefs_get_occupants_char();
+    char* ch = prefs_get_occupants_char();
     if (ch) {
-        g_string_append_printf(msg, "%c", ch);
+        g_string_append_printf(msg, "%s", ch);
+        free(ch);
     }
 
     gboolean wrap = prefs_get_boolean(PREF_OCCUPANTS_WRAP);