diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4abac18..dcdbd3c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ NOTE: for changes to take effect, you'll need to source again your `.tmux.conf`
 * [@thumbs-hint-bg-color](#thumbs-hint-bg-color)
 * [@thumbs-hint-fg-color](#thumbs-hint-fg-color)
 * [@thumbs-select-fg-color](#thumbs-select-fg-color)
+* [@thumbs-contrast](#thumbs-contrast)
 
 ### @thumbs-key
 
@@ -234,6 +235,18 @@ For example:
 set -g @thumbs-select-fg-color red
 ```
 
+### @thumbs-contrast
+
+`default: 0`
+
+Displays hint character in square brackets for extra visibility.
+
+For example:
+
+```
+set -g @thumbs-contrast 1
+```
+
 #### Colors
 
 This is the list of available colors:
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index cff32cf..1b182d5 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -105,6 +105,12 @@ fn app_args<'a>() -> clap::ArgMatches<'a> {
         .takes_value(true)
         .multiple(true),
     )
+    .arg(
+      Arg::with_name("contrast")
+        .help("Put square brackets around hint for visibility")
+        .long("contrast")
+        .short("c"),
+    )
     .get_matches();
 }
 
@@ -114,6 +120,7 @@ fn main() {
   let position = args.value_of("position").unwrap();
   let reverse = args.is_present("reverse");
   let unique = args.is_present("unique");
+  let contrast = args.is_present("contrast");
   let regexp = if let Some(items) = args.values_of("regexp") {
     items.collect::<Vec<_>>()
   } else {
@@ -146,6 +153,7 @@ fn main() {
       &mut state,
       reverse,
       unique,
+      contrast,
       position,
       select_foreground_color,
       foreground_color,
diff --git a/src/view.rs b/src/view.rs
index 95ebd4f..9836f75 100644
--- a/src/view.rs
+++ b/src/view.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ pub struct View<'a> {
   skip: usize,
   reverse: bool,
   unique: bool,
+  contrast: bool,
   position: &'a str,
   select_foreground_color: Color,
   foreground_color: Color,
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ impl<'a> View<'a> {
     state: &'a mut state::State<'a>,
     reverse: bool,
     unique: bool,
+    contrast: bool,
     position: &'a str,
     select_foreground_color: Color,
     foreground_color: Color,
@@ -34,6 +36,7 @@ impl<'a> View<'a> {
       skip: 0,
       reverse: reverse,
       unique: unique,
+      contrast: contrast,
       position: position,
       select_foreground_color: select_foreground_color,
       foreground_color: foreground_color,
@@ -55,6 +58,16 @@ impl<'a> View<'a> {
     }
   }
 
+  fn make_hint_text(&self, hint: &str) -> String {
+    let text = if self.contrast {
+      format!("[{}]", hint).to_string()
+    } else {
+      hint.to_string()
+    };
+
+    text
+  }
+
   pub fn present(&mut self) -> Option<(String, bool)> {
     let mut rustbox = match RustBox::init(Default::default()) {
       Result::Ok(v) => v,
@@ -83,13 +96,15 @@ impl<'a> View<'a> {
         let clean = line.trim_end_matches(|c: char| c.is_whitespace());
 
         if clean.len() > 0 {
+          let text = self.make_hint_text(line);
+
           rustbox.print(
             0,
             index,
             rustbox::RB_NORMAL,
             Color::White,
             Color::Black,
-            line,
+            &text,
           );
         }
       }
@@ -108,6 +123,7 @@ impl<'a> View<'a> {
         let prefix = &line[0..mat.x as usize];
         let extra = prefix.len() - prefix.chars().count();
         let offset = (mat.x as usize) - extra;
+        let text = self.make_hint_text(mat.text);
 
         rustbox.print(
           offset,
@@ -115,23 +131,25 @@ impl<'a> View<'a> {
           rustbox::RB_NORMAL,
           selected_color,
           self.background_color,
-          mat.text,
+          &text,
         );
 
         if let Some(ref hint) = mat.hint {
           let extra_position = if self.position == "left" {
             0
           } else {
-            mat.text.len() - mat.hint.clone().unwrap().len()
+            text.len() - mat.hint.clone().unwrap().len()
           };
 
+          let text = self.make_hint_text(hint.as_str());
+
           rustbox.print(
             offset + extra_position,
             mat.y as usize,
             rustbox::RB_BOLD,
             self.hint_foreground_color,
             self.hint_background_color,
-            hint.as_str(),
+            &text,
           );
         }
       }
@@ -187,3 +205,39 @@ impl<'a> View<'a> {
     None
   }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+  use super::*;
+
+  fn split(output: &str) -> Vec<&str> {
+    output.split("\n").collect::<Vec<&str>>()
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn hint_text() {
+    let lines = split("lorem 127.0.0.1 lorem");
+    let custom = [].to_vec();
+    let mut state = state::State::new(&lines, "abcd", &custom);
+    let mut view = View {
+      state: &mut state,
+      skip: 0,
+      reverse: false,
+      unique: false,
+      contrast: false,
+      position: &"",
+      select_foreground_color: rustbox::Color::Default,
+      foreground_color: rustbox::Color::Default,
+      background_color: rustbox::Color::Default,
+      hint_background_color: rustbox::Color::Default,
+      hint_foreground_color: rustbox::Color::Default,
+    };
+
+    let result = view.make_hint_text("a");
+    assert_eq!(result, "a".to_string());
+
+    view.contrast = true;
+    let result = view.make_hint_text("a");
+    assert_eq!(result, "[a]".to_string());
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tmux-thumbs.sh b/tmux-thumbs.sh
index f066639..42dc558 100755
--- a/tmux-thumbs.sh
+++ b/tmux-thumbs.sh
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ PARAMS[8]=$(option select-fg-color)
 PARAMS[9]=$(option command)
 PARAMS[10]=$(option upcase-command)
 PARAMS[11]=$(multi regexp)
+PARAMS[12]=$(boolean contrast)
 
 CURRENT_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
 TARGET_RELEASE="/target/release/"