diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index caec5a0..f7c4c9c 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ Example config:
   # Default submission link - will be opened every time the program starts
   # link=http://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/31irjq
 
-  # Enable unicode characters (experimental)
-  # This is known to be unstable with east asian wide character sets
-  # unicode=true
+  # Enable ascii-only mode and disable unicode characters
+  # This may be necessary for compatability with some terminal browsers
+  # ascii=True
 
 RTV allows users to compose comments and replys using their preferred text editor (**vi**, **nano**, **gedit**, etc).
 Set the environment variable ``RTV_EDITOR`` to specify which editor the program should use.
diff --git a/rtv/__main__.py b/rtv/__main__.py
index 6619a19..645f05e 100644
--- a/rtv/__main__.py
+++ b/rtv/__main__.py
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ def load_config():
     if config.has_section('rtv'):
         defaults = dict(config.items('rtv'))
 
-    if 'unicode' in defaults:
-        defaults['unicode'] = config.getboolean('rtv', 'unicode')
+    if 'ascii' in defaults:
+        defaults['ascii'] = config.getboolean('rtv', 'ascii')
 
     return defaults
 
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ def command_line():
 
     parser.add_argument('-s', dest='subreddit', help='subreddit name')
     parser.add_argument('-l', dest='link', help='full link to a submission')
-    parser.add_argument('--unicode', action='store_const', const=False,
-                        help='enable unicode (experimental)')
+    parser.add_argument('--ascii', action='store_true',
+                        help='enable ascii-only mode')
     parser.add_argument('--log', metavar='FILE', action='store',
                         help='Log HTTP requests')
 
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def main():
         if getattr(args, key, None) is None:
             setattr(args, key, val)
 
-    config.unicode = False if args.unicode is None else args.unicode
+    config.unicode = (not args.ascii)
 
     # Squelch SSL warnings for Ubuntu
     logging.captureWarnings(True)
diff --git a/rtv/curses_helpers.py b/rtv/curses_helpers.py
index 3e1de6c..faefd78 100644
--- a/rtv/curses_helpers.py
+++ b/rtv/curses_helpers.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import curses
 from curses import textpad, ascii
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
+from . import config
 from .docs import HELP
 from .helpers import strip_textpad, clean
 from .exceptions import EscapeInterrupt
@@ -20,10 +21,10 @@ ESCAPE = 27
 # found to be buggy and a PITA to work with. By defining them as unicode
 # points they can be added via the more reliable curses.addstr().
 # http://bugs.python.org/issue21088
-UARROW = u'\u25b2'
-DARROW = u'\u25bc'
-BULLET = u'\u2022'
-GOLD = u'\u272A'
+UARROW = u'\u25b2' if config.unicode else '^'
+DARROW = u'\u25bc' if config.unicode else 'v'
+BULLET = u'\u2022' if config.unicode else 'o'
+GOLD = u'\u272A' if config.unicode else '*'
 
 def get_arrow(likes):
     """
diff --git a/rtv/page.py b/rtv/page.py
index 41911ee..006ce25 100644
--- a/rtv/page.py
+++ b/rtv/page.py
@@ -477,8 +477,7 @@ class BasePage(object):
             username = self.reddit.user.name
             s_col = (n_cols - textual_width(username) - 1)
             # Only print username if it fits in the empty space on the right
-            if (s_col - 1) >= len(sub_name):
-                n = (n_cols - s_col - 1)
+            if (s_col - 1) >= textual_width(sub_name):
                 add_line(self._header_window, username, 0, s_col)
 
         self._header_window.refresh()
diff --git a/rtv/subreddit.py b/rtv/subreddit.py
index 5ae1f6a..7782cab 100644
--- a/rtv/subreddit.py
+++ b/rtv/subreddit.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from .submission import SubmissionPage
 from .content import SubredditContent
 from .helpers import open_browser, open_editor
 from .docs import SUBMISSION_FILE
+from .history import load_history, save_history
 from .curses_helpers import (GOLD, Color, LoadScreen, add_line, get_arrow,
                              show_notification, prompt_input)
 
@@ -21,7 +22,6 @@ _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 history = load_history()
 
-
 @atexit.register
 def save_links():
     global history