diff --git a/gajim/groupchat_control.py b/gajim/groupchat_control.py
index 4bc00ce29..e58a5885e 100644
--- a/gajim/groupchat_control.py
+++ b/gajim/groupchat_control.py
@@ -1854,7 +1854,7 @@ class GroupchatControl(ChatControlBase):
 
         nick = event.properties.muc_nickname
         status = event.properties.status
-        status = '' if status is None else ' (%s)' % status
+        status = '' if status is None else ' - %s' % status
         show = helpers.get_uf_show(event.properties.show.value)
 
         status_default = app.config.get('print_status_muc_default')
diff --git a/gajim/privatechat_control.py b/gajim/privatechat_control.py
index 831530af3..5d56a1fa7 100644
--- a/gajim/privatechat_control.py
+++ b/gajim/privatechat_control.py
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class PrivateChatControl(ChatControl):
 
         nick = event.properties.muc_nickname
         status = event.properties.status
-        status = '' if status is None else ' (%s)' % status
+        status = '' if status is None else ' - %s' % status
         show = helpers.get_uf_show(event.properties.show.value)
 
         status_default = app.config.get('print_status_muc_default')