diff --git a/home/modules/programs/waybar/default.nix b/home/modules/programs/waybar/default.nix
index e475dc7..e2def8f 100644
--- a/home/modules/programs/waybar/default.nix
+++ b/home/modules/programs/waybar/default.nix
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ in
         };
         "modules" = [
           "clock"
+          "idle_inhibitor"
           "sway/language"
           "network"
           "custom/wireguard"
           "bluetooth"
           "pulseaudio"
-          "idle_inhibitor"
         ];
       };
       "sway/workspaces" = {
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ in
         };
       };
       "sway/language" = {
-        format = "| {short} ";
+        # this one gobbles all trailing ascii whitespace for some reason. use this unicode instead
+        format = "| {short} ";
         tooltip-format = "{long}";
       };
       clock = {
@@ -75,14 +76,14 @@ in
       battery = {
         interval = 60;
         format = "| {capacity}% ";
-        format-charging = "| ch:{capacity}%";
+        format-charging = "| ch:{capacity}% ";
       };
       network = {
         tooltip-format = "{ifname} = {ipaddr}/{cidr}";
         format-wifi = "| w:{essid} ";
         format-ethernet = "| e:{ipaddr} ";
         format-linked = "| l:{ipaddr} ";
-        format-disconnected = "| d ";
+        format-disconnected = "| w:d ";
         interval = 15;
         on-click = "${uwsm} ${term} -e nmtui";
       };