diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 936ca9d..e7ad48c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ your `PS1` variable, and make sure the variable value is defined with double
 quotes. A set of color variables have also been set for you to use. For a list
 of available colors check `colors.sh`.
 
+If you would like to use a symbol other than '*' to indicate that the branch is 
+dirty, simply set the `dirtysmb` to whatever symbol you would like and export it.
 
 ## Updating
 
diff --git a/prompt.sh b/prompt.sh
index 6a737b8..2ac3650 100644
--- a/prompt.sh
+++ b/prompt.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# Users can set the dirtysymb env var in their .bash_profile, etc,
+# or they can leave it unset and it will default to the '*'.
+export dirtysymb=${dirtysymb:="*"};
+
 find_git_branch() {
   # Based on: http://stackoverflow.com/a/13003854/170413
   local branch
@@ -14,7 +18,7 @@ find_git_branch() {
 find_git_dirty() {
   local status=$(git status --porcelain 2> /dev/null)
   if [[ "$status" != "" ]]; then
-    git_dirty='*'
+    git_dirty=$dirtysymb
   else
     git_dirty=''
   fi