diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 49863a34..b1f8abc3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -509,7 +509,11 @@ This segment shows the version of Ruby being used when using `rbenv` to change y
 It figures out the version being used by taking the output of the `rbenv version-name` command.
 
 * If `rbenv` is not in $PATH, nothing will be shown.
-* If the current Ruby version is the same as the global Ruby version, nothing will be shown.
+* By default, if the current local Ruby version is the same as the global Ruby version, nothing will be shown. See the configuration variable, below, to modify this behavior.
+
+Variable | Default Value | Description |
+|----------|---------------|-------------|
+|`POWERLEVEL9K_RBENV_ALWAYS`|'false'|Always show the `rbenv` segment, even if the local version matches the global.|
 
 ##### rspec_stats
 
diff --git a/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme b/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
index b03a9374..148ffeab 100755
--- a/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
+++ b/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
@@ -1052,17 +1052,17 @@ prompt_ram() {
 }
 
 # rbenv information
+set_default POWERLEVEL9K_RBENV_ALWAYS false
 prompt_rbenv() {
   if which rbenv 2>/dev/null >&2; then
     local rbenv_version_name="$(rbenv version-name)"
     local rbenv_global="$(rbenv global)"
 
-    # Don't show anything if the current Ruby is the same as the global Ruby.
-    if [[ $rbenv_version_name == $rbenv_global ]]; then
-      return
+    # Don't show anything if the current Ruby is the same as the global Ruby
+    # unless `POWERLEVEL9K_RBENV_ALWAYS` is set.
+    if [[ $POWERLEVEL9K_RBENV_ALWAYS == true || $rbenv_version_name != $rbenv_global ]];then
+      "$1_prompt_segment" "$0" "$2" "red" "$DEFAULT_COLOR" "$rbenv_version_name" 'RUBY_ICON'
     fi
-
-    "$1_prompt_segment" "$0" "$2" "red" "$DEFAULT_COLOR" "$rbenv_version_name" 'RUBY_ICON'
   fi
 }