diff --git a/src/plugins/irc-events/connection.js b/src/plugins/irc-events/connection.js
index 44e75714..18ceb3f2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/irc-events/connection.js
+++ b/src/plugins/irc-events/connection.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+var _ = require("lodash");
 var identd = require("../../identd");
 var Msg = require("../../models/msg");
 
@@ -58,6 +59,12 @@ module.exports = function(irc, network) {
 			return;
 		}
 
+		network.prefixLookup = {};
+
+		_.each(data.options.PREFIX, function(mode) {
+			network.prefixLookup[mode.mode] = mode.symbol;
+		});
+
 		network.serverOptions.PREFIX = data.options.PREFIX;
 
 		client.emit("network_changed", {
diff --git a/src/plugins/irc-events/names.js b/src/plugins/irc-events/names.js
index 5612b09f..fb176075 100644
--- a/src/plugins/irc-events/names.js
+++ b/src/plugins/irc-events/names.js
@@ -10,7 +10,14 @@ module.exports = function(irc, network) {
 		}
 		chan.users = [];
 		_.each(data.users, function(u) {
-			chan.users.push(new User(u));
+			var user = new User(u);
+
+			// irc-framework sets characater mode, but lounge works with symbols
+			if (user.mode) {
+				user.mode = network.prefixLookup[user.mode];
+			}
+
+			chan.users.push(user);
 		});
 		chan.sortUsers();
 		client.emit("users", {