diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index e25d83c..32a2a1e 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ static Color colors[] = {
 #define URGENT_ATTR     NORMAL_ATTR
 /* curses attributes for the status bar */
 #define BAR_ATTR        (COLOR(BLUE) | A_NORMAL)
+/* characters for beginning and end of status bar message */
+#define BAR_BEGIN       '['
+#define BAR_END         ']'
 /* status bar (command line option -s) position */
 #define BAR_POS         BAR_TOP /* BAR_BOTTOM, BAR_OFF */
 /* whether status bar should be hidden if only one client exists */
diff --git a/dvtm.c b/dvtm.c
index dbacb39..7170f3b 100644
--- a/dvtm.c
+++ b/dvtm.c
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ drawbar(void) {
 	(void)y;
 	int maxwidth = screen.w - x - 2;
 
-	addch('[');
+	addch(BAR_BEGIN);
 	attrset(BAR_ATTR);
 
 	wchar_t wbuf[sizeof bar.text];
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ drawbar(void) {
 	}
 
 	attrset(TAG_NORMAL);
-	mvaddch(bar.y, screen.w - 1, ']');
+	mvaddch(bar.y, screen.w - 1, BAR_END);
 	attrset(NORMAL_ATTR);
 	move(sy, sx);
 	wnoutrefresh(stdscr);