diff --git a/matrix/bar_items.py b/matrix/bar_items.py
index 8c09f78..150540b 100644
--- a/matrix/bar_items.py
+++ b/matrix/bar_items.py
@@ -113,7 +113,9 @@ def matrix_bar_item_buffer_modes(data, item, window, buffer, extra_info):
                 modes.append("❌")
 
             if room_buffer.backlog_pending or server.busy:
-                modes.append("⏳")
+                modes.append(
+                    G.CONFIG.look.busy_sign
+                )
 
             return "".join(modes)
 
diff --git a/matrix/config.py b/matrix/config.py
index 0c3da6a..0764ea4 100644
--- a/matrix/config.py
+++ b/matrix/config.py
@@ -452,6 +452,18 @@ class MatrixConfig(WeechatConfig):
                  "rooms (note: content is evaluated, see /help eval)"),
                 eval_cast,
             ),
+            Option(
+                "busy_sign",
+                "string",
+                "",
+                0,
+                0,
+                "⏳",
+                ("A sign that is used to signal that the client is busy e.g. "
+                 "when the room backlog is fetching"
+                 " (note: content is evaluated, see /help eval)"),
+                eval_cast,
+            ),
             Option(
                 "pygments_style",
                 "string",