diff --git a/git-prompt-colors.sh b/git-prompt-colors.sh
index bd3b5ac..88680c4 100644
--- a/git-prompt-colors.sh
+++ b/git-prompt-colors.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # These are the color definitions used by gitprompt.sh
 
 define_git_prompt_colors() {
-
   Time12a="\$(date +%H:%M)"
   PathShort="\w"
 
@@ -20,6 +19,12 @@ define_git_prompt_colors() {
   GIT_PROMPT_STASHED="${BoldBlue}⚑ "    # the number of stashed files/dir
   GIT_PROMPT_CLEAN="${BoldGreen}✔"      # a colored flag indicating a "clean" repo
 
+  # For the command indicator, the placeholder _LAST_COMMAND_STATE_ 
+  # will be replaced with the exit code of the last command
+  # e.g.
+  # GIT_PROMPT_COMMAND_OK="${Green}✔-_LAST_COMMAND_STATE_ "    # indicator if the last command returned with an exit code of 0
+  # GIT_PROMPT_COMMAND_FAIL="${Red}✘-_LAST_COMMAND_STATE_ "   # indicator if the last command returned with an exit code of other than 0
+
   GIT_PROMPT_COMMAND_OK="${Green}✔ "    # indicator if the last command returned with an exit code of 0
   GIT_PROMPT_COMMAND_FAIL="${Red}✘ "   # indicator if the last command returned with an exit code of other than 0
 
diff --git a/gitprompt.sh b/gitprompt.sh
index 4d57920..ed1a5bb 100755
--- a/gitprompt.sh
+++ b/gitprompt.sh
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ function git_prompt_config()
 
   if [ "$GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_LAST_COMMAND_INDICATOR" = 1 ]; then
     if [ $GIT_PROMPT_LAST_COMMAND_STATE = 0 ]; then
-      LAST_COMMAND_INDICATOR="${GIT_PROMPT_COMMAND_OK}";
+      LAST_COMMAND_INDICATOR="$GIT_PROMPT_COMMAND_OK";
     else
-      LAST_COMMAND_INDICATOR="${GIT_PROMPT_COMMAND_FAIL}";
+      LAST_COMMAND_INDICATOR="$GIT_PROMPT_COMMAND_FAIL";
     fi
 
     # replace _LAST_COMMAND_STATE_ token with the actual state
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ function gp_install_prompt {
     esac
   fi
 
-  if [ "x${GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_LAST_COMMAND_INDICATOR}" == "x1" ]; then
+  if [ "$GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_LAST_COMMAND_INDICATOR" = 1 ]; then
     local setLastCommandStateEntry="setLastCommandState"
     case ";$PROMPT_COMMAND;" in
       *";$setLastCommandStateEntry;"*)