diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index f300de6b..99da991a 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ byobu (5.59) unreleased; urgency=low
     keys.tmux: LP: #1215210
     - default window name to -
     - this is a compromise and I see no other way around this
+  * usr/share/byobu/profiles/bashrc:
+    - allow disable of utf8 prompt via BYOBU_CHARMAP variable
 
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Thu, 12 Sep 2013 10:53:27 -0500
 
diff --git a/usr/share/byobu/profiles/bashrc b/usr/share/byobu/profiles/bashrc
index 7ac86e85..e20faaab 100644
--- a/usr/share/byobu/profiles/bashrc
+++ b/usr/share/byobu/profiles/bashrc
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ if [ -n "$TMUX" ] || [ "${TERMCAP#*screen}" != "${TERMCAP}" ]; then
 		case "$BYOBU_DISTRO" in
 			"Ubuntu")
 				# Use Ubuntu colors (grey / aubergine / orange)
-				case "$(locale charmap 2>/dev/null || echo)" in
+				[ -n "$BYOBU_CHARMAP" ] || BYOBU_CHARMAP=$(locale charmap 2>/dev/null || echo)
+				case "$BYOBU_CHARMAP" in
 					"UTF-8")
 						# MATHEMATICAL RIGHT DOUBLE ANGLE BRACKET (U+27EB, Pe): ⟫
 						PS1="${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}\[\e[38;5;245m\]\u\[\e[00m\]@\[\e[38;5;5m\]\h\[\e[00m\]:\[\e[38;5;172m\]\w\[\e[00m\]⟫ "