diff --git a/shell/vimrc b/shell/vimrc
index 1bee0df..bf33f65 100644
--- a/shell/vimrc
+++ b/shell/vimrc
@@ -107,4 +107,6 @@ set wildignore+=.DS_Store,.git,.hg,.svn
 set wildignore+=*~,*.swp,*.swo,*.tmp
 " drop undo/redo history
 command Z :set undoreload=0|edit
+" show/hide special chars with :set (un)list
+set listchars=eol:$,tab:>-,trail:~,extends:>,precedes:<