diff --git a/src/modules/sway/mode.cpp b/src/modules/sway/mode.cpp
index d202b8b8..cd02c0ca 100644
--- a/src/modules/sway/mode.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/sway/mode.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,11 @@ void Mode::onEvent(const struct Ipc::ipc_response& res) {
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mutex_);
     auto                        payload = parser_.parse(res.payload);
     if (payload["change"] != "default") {
-      mode_ = Glib::Markup::escape_text(payload["change"].asString());
+      if (payload["pango_markup"].asBool()) {
+        mode_ = payload["change"].asString();
+      } else {
+        mode_ = Glib::Markup::escape_text(payload["change"].asString());
+      }
     } else {
       mode_.clear();
     }