--- a/.vimrc
+++ b/.vimrc
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ autocmd FileType vimfiler nmap <buffer> 
 
 ">> Airline
 let g:airline#extensions#whitespace#enabled = 0
+let g:airline_powerline_fonts = 0
 
 "keep bufferline from writing into the command line
 let g:bufferline_echo = 0
@@ -439,6 +440,11 @@ try
 catch
 endtry
 
+if g:airline_powerline_fonts == 0 && $LANG =~ 'UTF-8'
+  let g:airline_left_sep  = '▒'
+  let g:airline_right_sep = g:airline_left_sep
+endif
+
 if has('gui_running')
   set number
   set background=dark