diff --git a/persistence/sessions.go b/persistence/sessions.go
index cfea675..bc71fd6 100644
--- a/persistence/sessions.go
+++ b/persistence/sessions.go
@@ -38,12 +38,14 @@ type Session struct {
 	Timezone    string `yaml:":timezone"`
 	KeepOnline  bool   `yaml:":keeponline"`
 	RawMessages bool   `yaml:":rawmessages"`
+	AsciiArrows bool   `yaml:":asciiarrows"`
 }
 
 var configKeys = []string{
 	"timezone",
 	"keeponline",
 	"rawmessages",
+	"asciiarrows",
 }
 
 var sessionDB *SessionsYamlDB
@@ -114,6 +116,8 @@ func (s *Session) Get(key string) (string, error) {
 		return fromBool(s.KeepOnline), nil
 	case "rawmessages":
 		return fromBool(s.RawMessages), nil
+	case "asciiarrows":
+		return fromBool(s.AsciiArrows), nil
 	}
 
 	return "", errors.New("Unknown session property")
@@ -150,6 +154,13 @@ func (s *Session) Set(key string, value string) (string, error) {
 		}
 		s.RawMessages = b
 		return value, nil
+	case "asciiarrows":
+		b, err := toBool(value)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		s.AsciiArrows = b
+		return value, nil
 	}
 
 	return "", errors.New("Unknown session property")
diff --git a/persistence/sessions_test.go b/persistence/sessions_test.go
index aa1f4b8..76f71f9 100644
--- a/persistence/sessions_test.go
+++ b/persistence/sessions_test.go
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ func TestSessionToMap(t *testing.T) {
 		"timezone":    "klsf",
 		"keeponline":  "false",
 		"rawmessages": "true",
+		"asciiarrows": "false",
 	}
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(m, sample) {
 		t.Errorf("Map does not match the sample: %v", m)
diff --git a/telegram/utils.go b/telegram/utils.go
index 086b7ae..7e93e57 100644
--- a/telegram/utils.go
+++ b/telegram/utils.go
@@ -617,10 +617,18 @@ func (c *Client) messageToPrefix(message *client.Message, fileString string) str
 	prefix := []string{}
 	// message direction
 	var directionChar string
-	if message.IsOutgoing {
-		directionChar = "➡ "
+	if c.Session.AsciiArrows {
+		if message.IsOutgoing {
+			directionChar = "> "
+		} else {
+			directionChar = "< "
+		}
 	} else {
-		directionChar = "⬅ "
+		if message.IsOutgoing {
+			directionChar = "➡ "
+		} else {
+			directionChar = "⬅ "
+		}
 	}
 	prefix = append(prefix, directionChar+strconv.FormatInt(message.Id, 10))
 	// show sender in group chats
diff --git a/telegram/utils_test.go b/telegram/utils_test.go
index c168757..a435ea9 100644
--- a/telegram/utils_test.go
+++ b/telegram/utils_test.go
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ func TestMessageToPrefix1(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 		},
 	}
-	prefix := (&Client{}).messageToPrefix(&message, "")
+	prefix := (&Client{Session: &persistence.Session{}}).messageToPrefix(&message, "")
 	if prefix != "➡ 42 | fwd: ziz" {
 		t.Errorf("Wrong prefix: %v", prefix)
 	}
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ func TestMessageToPrefix2(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 		},
 	}
-	prefix := (&Client{}).messageToPrefix(&message, "")
+	prefix := (&Client{Session: &persistence.Session{}}).messageToPrefix(&message, "")
 	if prefix != "⬅ 56 | fwd:  (zaz)" {
 		t.Errorf("Wrong prefix: %v", prefix)
 	}
@@ -525,8 +525,8 @@ func TestMessageToPrefix3(t *testing.T) {
 			Origin: &client.MessageForwardOriginChannel{},
 		},
 	}
-	prefix := (&Client{}).messageToPrefix(&message, "a.jpg")
-	if prefix != "⬅ 56 | fwd:  | file: a.jpg" {
+	prefix := (&Client{Session: &persistence.Session{AsciiArrows: true}}).messageToPrefix(&message, "a.jpg")
+	if prefix != "< 56 | fwd:  | file: a.jpg" {
 		t.Errorf("Wrong prefix: %v", prefix)
 	}
 }
@@ -536,8 +536,8 @@ func TestMessageToPrefix4(t *testing.T) {
 		Id:         23,
 		IsOutgoing: true,
 	}
-	prefix := (&Client{}).messageToPrefix(&message, "")
-	if prefix != "➡ 23" {
+	prefix := (&Client{Session: &persistence.Session{AsciiArrows: true}}).messageToPrefix(&message, "")
+	if prefix != "> 23" {
 		t.Errorf("Wrong prefix: %v", prefix)
 	}
 }