diff --git a/novelwriter/dialogs/preferences.py b/novelwriter/dialogs/preferences.py
index aa4f9cd1..e4bb4bbd 100644
--- a/novelwriter/dialogs/preferences.py
+++ b/novelwriter/dialogs/preferences.py
@@ -225,6 +225,14 @@ class GuiPreferences(NDialog):
             self.tr("Turn off to use the Qt font dialog, which may have more options.")
         )
 
+        # Use Character Count
+        self.useCharCount = NSwitch(self)
+        self.useCharCount.setChecked(CONFIG.useCharCount)
+        self.mainForm.addRow(
+            self.tr("Prefer character count over word count"), self.useCharCount,
+            self.tr("Display character count instead where available.")
+        )
+
         # Document Style
         # ==============
 
@@ -957,21 +965,24 @@ class GuiPreferences(NDialog):
         refreshTree  = False
 
         # Appearance
-        guiLocale   = self.guiLocale.currentData()
-        guiTheme    = self.guiTheme.currentData()
-        iconTheme   = self.iconTheme.currentData()
+        guiLocale    = self.guiLocale.currentData()
+        guiTheme     = self.guiTheme.currentData()
+        iconTheme    = self.iconTheme.currentData()
+        useCharCount = self.useCharCount.isChecked()
 
         updateTheme  |= CONFIG.guiTheme != guiTheme
         updateTheme  |= CONFIG.iconTheme != iconTheme
         needsRestart |= CONFIG.guiLocale != guiLocale
         needsRestart |= CONFIG.guiFont != self._guiFont
+        refreshTree  |= CONFIG.useCharCount != useCharCount
 
-        CONFIG.guiLocale   = guiLocale
-        CONFIG.guiTheme    = guiTheme
-        CONFIG.iconTheme   = iconTheme
-        CONFIG.hideVScroll = self.hideVScroll.isChecked()
-        CONFIG.hideHScroll = self.hideHScroll.isChecked()
-        CONFIG.nativeFont  = self.nativeFont.isChecked()
+        CONFIG.guiLocale    = guiLocale
+        CONFIG.guiTheme     = guiTheme
+        CONFIG.iconTheme    = iconTheme
+        CONFIG.hideVScroll  = self.hideVScroll.isChecked()
+        CONFIG.hideHScroll  = self.hideHScroll.isChecked()
+        CONFIG.nativeFont   = self.nativeFont.isChecked()
+        CONFIG.useCharCount = useCharCount
         CONFIG.setGuiFont(self._guiFont)
 
         # Document Style
diff --git a/tests/test_dialogs/test_dlg_preferences.py b/tests/test_dialogs/test_dlg_preferences.py
index c7a1b7e4..8e0edfa9 100644
--- a/tests/test_dialogs/test_dlg_preferences.py
+++ b/tests/test_dialogs/test_dlg_preferences.py
@@ -163,14 +163,17 @@ def testDlgPreferences_Settings(qtbot, monkeypatch, nwGUI, fncPath, tstPaths):
         mp.setattr(QFontDialog, "getFont", lambda *a, **k: (QFont(), True))
         prefs.nativeFont.setChecked(True)  # Use OS font dialog
         prefs.guiFontButton.click()
+
     prefs.hideVScroll.setChecked(True)
     prefs.hideHScroll.setChecked(True)
+    prefs.useCharCount.setChecked(True)
 
     assert CONFIG.guiLocale != "en_US"
     assert CONFIG.guiTheme != "default_dark"
     assert CONFIG.guiFont.family() != ""
     assert CONFIG.hideVScroll is False
     assert CONFIG.hideHScroll is False
+    assert CONFIG.useCharCount is False
 
     # Document Style
     prefs.guiSyntax.setCurrentIndex(prefs.guiSyntax.findData("default_dark"))
@@ -178,6 +181,7 @@ def testDlgPreferences_Settings(qtbot, monkeypatch, nwGUI, fncPath, tstPaths):
         mp.setattr(QFontDialog, "getFont", lambda *a, **k: (QFont(), True))
         prefs.nativeFont.setChecked(False)  # Use Qt font dialog
         prefs.textFontButton.click()
+
     prefs.showFullPath.setChecked(False)
     prefs.incNotesWCount.setChecked(False)
 
@@ -344,6 +348,7 @@ def testDlgPreferences_Settings(qtbot, monkeypatch, nwGUI, fncPath, tstPaths):
     assert CONFIG.guiFont == QFont()
     assert CONFIG.hideVScroll is True
     assert CONFIG.hideHScroll is True
+    assert CONFIG.useCharCount is True
 
     # Document Style
     assert CONFIG.guiSyntax == "default_dark"