diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index 64ed72a..2432ad3 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@
     {VV_NAME("swapname",	 VAR_STRING), VV_RO},
     {VV_NAME("swapchoice",	 VAR_STRING), 0},
     {VV_NAME("swapcommand",	 VAR_STRING), VV_RO},
-    {VV_NAME("char",		 VAR_STRING), VV_RO},
+    {VV_NAME("char",		 VAR_STRING), 0},
     {VV_NAME("mouse_win",	 VAR_NUMBER), 0},
     {VV_NAME("mouse_lnum",	 VAR_NUMBER), 0},
     {VV_NAME("mouse_col",	 VAR_NUMBER), 0},