diff --git a/src/config/theme.c b/src/config/theme.c
index a0ca8356..53f55401 100644
--- a/src/config/theme.c
+++ b/src/config/theme.c
@@ -574,6 +574,14 @@ _load_preferences(void)
         }
     }
 
+    if (g_key_file_has_key(theme, "ui", "omemo.char", NULL)) {
+        gchar *ch = g_key_file_get_string(theme, "ui", "omemo.char", NULL);
+        if (ch && strlen(ch) > 0) {
+            prefs_set_omemo_char(ch[0]);
+            g_free(ch);
+        }
+    }
+
     if (g_key_file_has_key(theme, "ui", "titlebar.position", NULL) &&
             g_key_file_has_key(theme, "ui", "mainwin.position", NULL) &&
             g_key_file_has_key(theme, "ui", "statusbar.position", NULL) &&
diff --git a/theme_template b/theme_template
index cba318d1..d59425de 100644
--- a/theme_template
+++ b/theme_template
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ occupants.header.char=
 wins.autotidy=
 otr.char=
 pgp.char=
+omemo.char=
 console.muc=
 console.chat=
 console.private=
diff --git a/themes/bios b/themes/bios
index 72e3a44d..570641bd 100644
--- a/themes/bios
+++ b/themes/bios
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ occupants.jid=false
 wins.autotidy=true
 otr.char=@
 pgp.char=%
+omemo.char=*
 tls.show=true
 console.muc=first
 titlebar.position=1
diff --git a/themes/boothj5 b/themes/boothj5
index d90cff03..ae8ff914 100644
--- a/themes/boothj5
+++ b/themes/boothj5
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ occupants.jid=false
 wins.autotidy=true
 otr.char=@
 pgp.char=%
+omemo.char=*
 tls.show=true
 console.muc=first
 console.chat=all
diff --git a/themes/boothj5_laptop b/themes/boothj5_laptop
index 4b03427b..af3958bd 100644
--- a/themes/boothj5_laptop
+++ b/themes/boothj5_laptop
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ occupants.jid=false
 wins.autotidy=true
 otr.char=@
 pgp.char=%
+omemo.char=*
 tls.show=true
 console.muc=first
 console.chat=all
diff --git a/themes/boothj5_slack b/themes/boothj5_slack
index ad126e9c..d1546d05 100644
--- a/themes/boothj5_slack
+++ b/themes/boothj5_slack
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ occupants.jid=false
 wins.autotidy=true
 otr.char=@
 pgp.char=%
+omemo.char=*
 tls.show=true
 console.muc=first
 console.chat=all