diff --git a/internal/icons.zsh b/internal/icons.zsh
index 403beea6..bf8f31fe 100644
--- a/internal/icons.zsh
+++ b/internal/icons.zsh
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 typeset -gA icons
 
 function _p9k_init_icons() {
+  [[ -n ${POWERLEVEL9K_MODE-} || ${langinfo[CODESET]} == (utf|UTF)(-|)8 ]] || local POWERLEVEL9K_MODE=ascii
   [[ $_p9k__icon_mode == $POWERLEVEL9K_MODE/$POWERLEVEL9K_LEGACY_ICON_SPACING/$POWERLEVEL9K_ICON_PADDING ]] && return
   typeset -g _p9k__icon_mode=$POWERLEVEL9K_MODE/$POWERLEVEL9K_LEGACY_ICON_SPACING/$POWERLEVEL9K_ICON_PADDING