diff --git a/examples/gauge.rs b/examples/gauge.rs
index 31828461..44e96e0b 100644
--- a/examples/gauge.rs
+++ b/examples/gauge.rs
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
                 )
                 .percent(app.progress4)
                 .label(label)
-                .use_unicode(false);
+                .use_unicode(true);
             f.render_widget(gauge, chunks[3]);
         })?;
 
diff --git a/src/widgets/gauge.rs b/src/widgets/gauge.rs
index f518f0be..521e44fc 100644
--- a/src/widgets/gauge.rs
+++ b/src/widgets/gauge.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ impl<'a> Default for Gauge<'a> {
             block: None,
             ratio: 0.0,
             label: None,
-            use_unicode: true,
+            use_unicode: false,
             style: Style::default(),
             gauge_style: Style::default(),
         }
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ fn get_unicode_block<'a>(frac: f64) -> &'a str {
         _ => " ",
     }
 }
+
 /// A compact widget to display a task progress over a single line.
 ///
 /// # Examples:
diff --git a/tests/widgets_gauge.rs b/tests/widgets_gauge.rs
index c39b311b..cc3ca951 100644
--- a/tests/widgets_gauge.rs
+++ b/tests/widgets_gauge.rs
@@ -23,11 +23,13 @@ fn widgets_gauge_renders() {
             let gauge = Gauge::default()
                 .block(Block::default().title("Percentage").borders(Borders::ALL))
                 .gauge_style(Style::default().bg(Color::Blue).fg(Color::Red))
+                .use_unicode(true)
                 .percent(43);
             f.render_widget(gauge, chunks[0]);
             let gauge = Gauge::default()
                 .block(Block::default().title("Ratio").borders(Borders::ALL))
                 .gauge_style(Style::default().bg(Color::Blue).fg(Color::Red))
+                .use_unicode(true)
                 .ratio(0.511_313_934_313_1);
             f.render_widget(gauge, chunks[1]);
         })