diff --git a/code/chat.js b/code/chat.js
index eb4b2b81..4217bb32 100644
--- a/code/chat.js
+++ b/code/chat.js
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ window.chat.renderMsg = function(msg, nick, time, team) {
   var t = '<time title="'+tb+'" data-timestamp="'+time+'">'+ta+'</time>';
   var s = 'style="color:'+COLORS[team]+'"';
   var title = nick.length >= 8 ? 'title="'+nick+'" class="help"' : '';
-  return '<p>'+t+'<mark '+s+'>'+nick+'</mark><span>'+msg+'</span></p>';
+  return '<p>'+t+'<span class="invisibleseparator"> &lt;</span><mark '+s+'>'+nick+'</mark><span class="invisibleseparator">&gt; </span><span>'+msg+'</span></p>';
 }
 
 
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index 88e25f23..38ae0e2f 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -225,6 +225,11 @@ summary {
   z-index: 3001;
 }
 
+#chat .invisibleseparator {
+    color: rgba(8, 48, 78, 0.0);
+    overflow: hidden;
+    width: 0px;
+}
 
 
 #chatinput span {