diff --git a/sway/ipc-server.c b/sway/ipc-server.c
index f6116921..0ab6af49 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-server.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-server.c
@@ -600,6 +600,7 @@ json_object *ipc_json_describe_bar_config(struct bar_config *bar) {
 	json_object_object_add(json, "strip_workspace_numbers", json_object_new_boolean(bar->strip_workspace_numbers));
 	json_object_object_add(json, "binding_mode_indicator", json_object_new_boolean(bar->binding_mode_indicator));
 	json_object_object_add(json, "verbose", json_object_new_boolean(bar->verbose));
+	json_object_object_add(json, "plaintext_markup", json_object_new_boolean(bar->plaintext_markup));
 
 	json_object *colors = json_object_new_object();
 	json_object_object_add(colors, "background", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.background));
diff --git a/swaybar/ipc.c b/swaybar/ipc.c
index 312c79b9..0446f38a 100644
--- a/swaybar/ipc.c
+++ b/swaybar/ipc.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ static void ipc_parse_config(struct config *config, const char *payload) {
 	json_object *tray_output, *mode, *hidden_bar, *position, *status_command;
 	json_object *font, *bar_height, *workspace_buttons, *strip_workspace_numbers;
 	json_object *binding_mode_indicator, *verbose, *colors, *sep_symbol, *outputs;
+	json_object *markup;
 	json_object_object_get_ex(bar_config, "tray_output", &tray_output);
 	json_object_object_get_ex(bar_config, "mode", &mode);
 	json_object_object_get_ex(bar_config, "hidden_bar", &hidden_bar);
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ static void ipc_parse_config(struct config *config, const char *payload) {
 	json_object_object_get_ex(bar_config, "separator_symbol", &sep_symbol);
 	json_object_object_get_ex(bar_config, "colors", &colors);
 	json_object_object_get_ex(bar_config, "outputs", &outputs);
+	json_object_object_get_ex(bar_config, "plaintext_markup", &markup);
 
 	if (status_command) {
 		free(config->status_command);
@@ -62,6 +64,10 @@ static void ipc_parse_config(struct config *config, const char *payload) {
 		config->height = json_object_get_int(bar_height);
 	}
 
+	if (markup) {
+		config->plaintext_markup = json_object_get_boolean(markup);
+	}
+
 	// free previous outputs list
 	int i;
 	for (i = 0; i < config->outputs->length; ++i) {