diff --git a/src/pager.cpp b/src/pager.cpp
index 99d46f274..8eb0dee10 100644
--- a/src/pager.cpp
+++ b/src/pager.cpp
@@ -153,7 +153,10 @@ line_t pager_t::completion_print_item(const wcstring &prefix, const comp_t *c, s
 
     highlight_role_t bg_role = modify_role(highlight_role_t::pager_background);
     highlight_spec_t bg = {highlight_role_t::normal, bg_role};
-    highlight_spec_t prefix_col = {modify_role(highlight_role_t::pager_prefix), bg_role};
+    highlight_spec_t prefix_col = {
+        modify_role(highlight_prefix ? highlight_role_t::pager_prefix
+                                     : highlight_role_t::pager_completion),
+        bg_role};
     highlight_spec_t comp_col = {modify_role(highlight_role_t::pager_completion), bg_role};
     highlight_spec_t desc_col = {modify_role(highlight_role_t::pager_description), bg_role};
 
@@ -392,7 +395,10 @@ void pager_t::set_completions(const completion_list_t &raw_completions) {
     have_unrendered_completions = true;
 }
 
-void pager_t::set_prefix(const wcstring &pref) { prefix = pref; }
+void pager_t::set_prefix(const wcstring &pref, bool highlight) {
+    prefix = pref;
+    highlight_prefix = highlight;
+}
 
 void pager_t::set_term_size(termsize_t ts) {
     available_term_width = ts.width > 0 ? ts.width : 0;
@@ -858,6 +864,7 @@ void pager_t::clear() {
     unfiltered_completion_infos.clear();
     completion_infos.clear();
     prefix.clear();
+    highlight_prefix = false;
     selected_completion_idx = PAGER_SELECTION_NONE;
     fully_disclosed = false;
     search_field_shown = false;
diff --git a/src/pager.h b/src/pager.h
index 9b65cc031..4fca05790 100644
--- a/src/pager.h
+++ b/src/pager.h
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ class pager_t {
     bool have_unrendered_completions = false;
 
     wcstring prefix;
+    bool highlight_prefix = false;
 
     bool completion_try_print(size_t cols, const wcstring &prefix, const comp_info_list_t &lst,
                               page_rendering_t *rendering, size_t suggested_start_row) const;
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ class pager_t {
     void set_completions(const completion_list_t &raw_completions);
 
     // Sets the prefix.
-    void set_prefix(const wcstring &pref);
+    void set_prefix(const wcstring &pref, bool highlight = true);
 
     // Sets the terminal size.
     void set_term_size(termsize_t ts);
diff --git a/src/reader.cpp b/src/reader.cpp
index 91e8b916a..8f9052f73 100644
--- a/src/reader.cpp
+++ b/src/reader.cpp
@@ -3754,7 +3754,7 @@ void reader_data_t::handle_readline_command(readline_cmd_t c, readline_loop_stat
             this->history_pager_history_index_end = 0;
             // Update the pager data.
             pager.set_search_field_shown(true);
-            pager.set_prefix(L"");
+            pager.set_prefix(MB_CUR_MAX > 1 ? L"► " : L"> ", false /* highlight */);
             // Update the search field, which triggers the actual history search.
             insert_string(&pager.search_field_line, command_line.text());
             break;