diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim
index 72c9c88..33a8e60 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 let s:empty_message = get(g:, 'airline#extensions#branch#empty_message',
       \ get(g:, 'airline_branch_empty_message', ''))
-let s:symbol = g:airline_symbols.branch
+let s:symbol = get(g:, 'airline#extensions#branch#symbol', g:airline_symbols.branch)
 
 let s:has_fugitive = exists('*fugitive#head')
 let s:has_fugitive_detect = exists('*fugitive#detect')
diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim
index a2c4f1d..7478a7e 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ else
   let s:show_message = get(g:, 'airline#extensions#whitespace#show_message', 1)
 endif
 
-let s:symbol = g:airline_symbols.whitespace
+let s:symbol = get(g:, 'airline#extensions#whitespace#symbol', g:airline_symbols.whitespace)
 let s:checks = get(g:, 'airline#extensions#whitespace#checks', ['indent', 'trailing'])
 
 let s:trailing_format = get(g:, 'airline#extensions#whitespace#trailing_format', 'trailing[%s]')
diff --git a/doc/airline.txt b/doc/airline.txt
index cc9a47b..4fbaec2 100644
--- a/doc/airline.txt
+++ b/doc/airline.txt
@@ -245,6 +245,9 @@ vim-signify <https://github.com/mhinz/vim-signify>
 * enable/disable detection of whitespace errors. >
   let g:airline#extensions#whitespace#enabled = 1
 <
+* customize the whitespace symbol. >
+  let g:airline#extensions#whitespace#symbol = '!'
+<
 * configure which whitespace checks to enable. >
   let g:airline#extensions#whitespace#checks = [ 'indent', 'trailing' ]
 <