diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
index a25b4540d1f9..dbb513f8df07 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
@@ -141,6 +141,9 @@ where
         helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::Spinner => render_lsp_spinner,
         helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::FileBaseName => render_file_base_name,
         helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::FileName => render_file_name,
+        helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::FileModificationIndicator => {
+            render_file_modification_indicator
+        }
         helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::FileEncoding => render_file_encoding,
         helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::FileLineEnding => render_file_line_ending,
         helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::FileType => render_file_type,
@@ -417,16 +420,26 @@ where
             .as_ref()
             .map(|p| p.to_string_lossy())
             .unwrap_or_else(|| SCRATCH_BUFFER_NAME.into());
-        format!(
-            " {}{} ",
-            path,
-            if context.doc.is_modified() { "[+]" } else { "" }
-        )
+        format!(" {} ", path)
     };
 
     write(context, title, None);
 }
 
+fn render_file_modification_indicator<F>(context: &mut RenderContext, write: F)
+where
+    F: Fn(&mut RenderContext, String, Option<Style>) + Copy,
+{
+    let title = (if context.doc.is_modified() {
+        "[+]"
+    } else {
+        "   "
+    })
+    .to_string();
+
+    write(context, title, None);
+}
+
 fn render_file_base_name<F>(context: &mut RenderContext, write: F)
 where
     F: Fn(&mut RenderContext, String, Option<Style>) + Copy,
@@ -437,11 +450,7 @@ where
             .as_ref()
             .and_then(|p| p.as_path().file_name().map(|s| s.to_string_lossy()))
             .unwrap_or_else(|| SCRATCH_BUFFER_NAME.into());
-        format!(
-            " {}{} ",
-            path,
-            if context.doc.is_modified() { "[+]" } else { "" }
-        )
+        format!(" {} ", path)
     };
 
     write(context, title, None);
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index 042f5bdb4269..50da3ddeac2d 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -414,7 +414,12 @@ impl Default for StatusLineConfig {
         use StatusLineElement as E;
 
         Self {
-            left: vec![E::Mode, E::Spinner, E::FileName],
+            left: vec![
+                E::Mode,
+                E::Spinner,
+                E::FileName,
+                E::FileModificationIndicator,
+            ],
             center: vec![],
             right: vec![E::Diagnostics, E::Selections, E::Position, E::FileEncoding],
             separator: String::from("│"),
@@ -456,6 +461,9 @@ pub enum StatusLineElement {
     /// The relative file path, including a dirty flag if it's unsaved
     FileName,
 
+    // The file modification indicator
+    FileModificationIndicator,
+
     /// The file encoding
     FileEncoding,