diff --git a/spotify.py b/spotify.py
index 8cee986..0d6a6af 100644
--- a/spotify.py
+++ b/spotify.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class Spotify(base.ThreadPoolText):
     """
 
     defaults = [
-        ("play_icon", "", "icon to display when playing music"),
+        ("play_icon", " ", "icon to display when playing music"),
         ("pause_icon", "", "icon to display when music paused"),
         ("update_interval", 0.5, "polling rate in seconds"),
         ("format", "{icon} {artist}: {album} - {track}", "Spotify display format"),