diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5f277ad..9a3dfe7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ fuzzy = false
 # whether to display the prefix characters in the output string at all
 # boolean
 render_prefix = true
+# whether to escape special characters like '&' to '&'
+# boolean
+escape_chars = false
 
 # time taken between updates of the output string, in milliseconds
 # u64 (0 <= u64 <= 18446744073709551615)
@@ -208,6 +211,7 @@ Whenever a config file is specified that does not actually exist, the script cre
   hide_output = true
   fuzzy = false
   render_prefix = true
+  escape_chars = false
   update_delay = 300
   metadata_separator = ' | '
   array_separator = '+'
diff --git a/src/print_text.rs b/src/print_text.rs
index dc1de54..2cd874e 100644
--- a/src/print_text.rs
+++ b/src/print_text.rs
@@ -81,7 +81,18 @@ fn append_fields(b: &mut Builder, cfg: &Config, data: &Data) {
   for field in &cfg.metadata_fields {
     if let Some(string) = data.field_text.get(&field.field) {
       idx += 1;
-      b.append(field.format.format(&[string.as_str()]));
+
+      if cfg.escape_chars {
+        let s: &String = &string.chars()
+          .map(|x| match x {
+            '&' => "&amp;".to_owned(),
+            _ => x.to_string(),
+          }).collect();
+
+        b.append(field.format.format(&[s.as_str()]));
+      } else {
+        b.append(field.format.format(&[string.as_str()]));
+      }
       if idx < len {b.append(cfg.metadata_separator.as_str())};
     } else {
       info!("failed to get {} value!", field.field);
diff --git a/src/structs/config.rs b/src/structs/config.rs
index 0b03c5d..25c3285 100644
--- a/src/structs/config.rs
+++ b/src/structs/config.rs
@@ -140,6 +140,10 @@ pub struct Config {
   /// Hashmap which maps Player Identities (strings; key) to prefixes (char; value).
   /// If left blank all players will use the default prefix character ('>').
   pub player_prefixes: HashMap<String, char>,
+  /// Boolean which tells the program to escape special characters or not.
+  /// This is useful for some bar implementations (i.e. waybar needs to escape the '&' character).
+  /// Currently only escapes '&', i will be adding more as i run into them.
+  pub escape_chars: bool,
 }
 
 /// Defaults for the Config struct.
@@ -158,6 +162,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
         rating_icons: Some(Rating::default()),
         metadata_fields: Config::default_metadata_fields(),
         player_prefixes: Config::default_player_prefixes(),
+        escape_chars: false,
       }
   }
 }