diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
index 4e845b23984b..05f23a2b52a5 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ use helix_view::{
 
 use crate::ui::ProgressSpinners;
 
-use helix_view::editor::ModeSeparator;
 use helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement as StatusLineElementID;
 use tui::buffer::Buffer as Surface;
 use tui::text::{Span, Spans};
@@ -192,27 +191,29 @@ where
         mode_style,
     );
 
-    match config.statusline.mode_separator {
-        ModeSeparator::Flat => {}
-        _ => {
-            // use mode style as mode separator style except set
-            // background to statusline background
-            let mode_separator_style = mode_style.map(|s| Style {
-                fg: s.bg,
-                bg: context.editor.theme.get("ui.statusline").bg,
-                ..Default::default()
-            });
-
-            let mode_separator = match config.statusline.mode_separator {
-                ModeSeparator::Angled => "",
-                ModeSeparator::Slanted => "",
-                ModeSeparator::Round => "",
-                ModeSeparator::Flat => unreachable!(),
-            };
-
-            write(context, mode_separator.to_string(), mode_separator_style);
-        }
-    };
+    if visible {
+        match config.statusline.mode_separator.as_str() {
+            "" => {}
+            _ => {
+                // use mode style as mode separator style except set
+                // background to statusline background
+                let mode_separator_style = mode_style.map(|s| Style {
+                    fg: s.bg,
+                    bg: context.editor.theme.get("ui.statusline").bg,
+                    ..Default::default()
+                });
+
+                let mode_separator = match config.statusline.mode_separator.as_str() {
+                    "angled" => "",
+                    "slanted" => "",
+                    "round" => "",
+                    s => s,
+                };
+
+                write(context, mode_separator.to_string(), mode_separator_style);
+            }
+        };
+    }
 }
 
 fn render_lsp_spinner<F>(context: &mut RenderContext, write: F)
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index 82c92eb0c87b..3a91daef113c 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -271,16 +271,7 @@ pub struct StatusLineConfig {
     pub right: Vec<StatusLineElement>,
     pub separator: String,
     pub mode: ModeConfig,
-    pub mode_separator: ModeSeparator,
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
-#[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case")]
-pub enum ModeSeparator {
-    Flat,
-    Angled,
-    Round,
-    Slanted,
+    pub mode_separator: String,
 }
 
 impl Default for StatusLineConfig {
@@ -293,7 +284,7 @@ impl Default for StatusLineConfig {
             right: vec![E::Diagnostics, E::Selections, E::Position, E::FileEncoding],
             separator: String::from("│"),
             mode: ModeConfig::default(),
-            mode_separator: ModeSeparator::Flat,
+            mode_separator: String::from(""),
         }
     }
 }