diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a8ac8ca..71f9497 100755
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -8,4 +8,6 @@ node_modules*
 .tmp*
 intern_*
 dev.js
-yarn-error.log
\ No newline at end of file
+yarn-error.log
+.yarn
+.pnp.*
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7cc6768..2495ab7 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ const <instance> = new cliProgress.MultiBar(options:object [, preset:object]);
 
 Adds a new progress bar to the container and starts the bar. Returns regular `SingleBar` object which can be individually controlled.
 
-Additional `barOptions` can be passed directly to the [generic-bar](lib/generic-bar.js) to override the global options for a single bar instance. This can be useful to change the appearance of a single bar object. But be patient: this should only be used to override formats - DON'T try to set other global options like the terminal, synchronous flags, etc..
+Additional `barOptions` can be passed directly to the [generic-bar](lib/generic-bar.js) to override the global options for a single bar instance. This can be useful to change the appearance of a single bar object. But be patient: this should only be used to override format\barChars  - DON'T try to set other global options like the terminal, synchronous flags, etc..
 
 ```js
 const <barInstance> = <instance>.create(totalValue:int, startValue:int [, payload:object = {} [, barOptions:object = {}]]);
diff --git a/lib/generic-bar.js b/lib/generic-bar.js
index 4fb6886..f11ace3 100755
--- a/lib/generic-bar.js
+++ b/lib/generic-bar.js
@@ -45,6 +45,14 @@ module.exports = class GenericBar extends _EventEmitter{
         // progress bar active ?
         this.isActive = false;
 
+        // if barCompleteChar/barIncompleteChar was provided, re-cache it
+        if (options.barCompleteString[1] !== options.barCompleteChar) {
+            options.barCompleteString = options.barCompleteChar.repeat(options.barsize);
+        }
+        if (options.barIncompleteString[1] !== options.barIncompleteChar) {
+            options.barIncompleteString = options.barIncompleteChar.repeat(options.barsize);
+        }
+
         // use default formatter or custom one ?
         this.formatter = (typeof this.options.format === 'function') ? this.options.format : _formatter;
     }
diff --git a/lib/options.js b/lib/options.js
index ce0a229..02adc8b 100644
--- a/lib/options.js
+++ b/lib/options.js
@@ -44,9 +44,12 @@ module.exports = {
         // disable linewrapping ?
         options.linewrap = mergeOption(opt.linewrap, false);
 
+        options.barCompleteChar = mergeOption(opt.barCompleteChar, '=');
+        options.barIncompleteChar = mergeOption(opt.barIncompleteChar, '-');
+
         // pre-render bar strings (performance)
-        options.barCompleteString = (new Array(options.barsize + 1 ).join(opt.barCompleteChar || '='));
-        options.barIncompleteString = (new Array(options.barsize + 1 ).join(opt.barIncompleteChar || '-'));
+        options.barCompleteString = options.barCompleteChar.repeat(options.barsize);
+        options.barIncompleteString = options.barIncompleteChar.repeat(options.barsize);
 
         // glue sequence (control chars) between bar elements ?
         options.barGlue = mergeOption(opt.barGlue, '');
@@ -98,4 +101,4 @@ module.exports = {
 
         return options;
     }
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};