diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index 059e59a628..1f11594dcd 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -2865,7 +2865,7 @@ class HermesCLI:
                 parts = [f"⚕ {snapshot['model_short']}", percent_label]
                 compressions = snapshot.get("compressions", 0)
                 if compressions:
-                    parts.append(f"cmp {compressions}")
+                    parts.append(f"🗜️ {compressions}")
                 parts.append(duration_label)
                 return self._trim_status_bar_text(" · ".join(parts), width)
 
@@ -2879,7 +2879,7 @@ class HermesCLI:
             compressions = snapshot.get("compressions", 0)
             parts = [f"⚕ {snapshot['model_short']}", context_label, percent_label]
             if compressions:
-                parts.append(f"cmp {compressions}")
+                parts.append(f"🗜️ {compressions}")
             parts.append(duration_label)
             prompt_elapsed = snapshot.get("prompt_elapsed")
             if prompt_elapsed:
@@ -2922,7 +2922,7 @@ class HermesCLI:
                     ]
                     if compressions:
                         frags.append(("class:status-bar-dim", " · "))
-                        frags.append((self._compression_count_style(compressions), f"cmp {compressions}"))
+                        frags.append((self._compression_count_style(compressions), f"🗜️ {compressions}"))
                     frags.extend([
                         ("class:status-bar-dim", " · "),
                         ("class:status-bar-dim", duration_label),
@@ -2950,7 +2950,7 @@ class HermesCLI:
                     ]
                     if compressions:
                         frags.append(("class:status-bar-dim", " │ "))
-                        frags.append((self._compression_count_style(compressions), f"cmp {compressions}"))
+                        frags.append((self._compression_count_style(compressions), f"🗜️ {compressions}"))
                     frags.extend([
                         ("class:status-bar-dim", " │ "),
                         ("class:status-bar-dim", duration_label),
diff --git a/tests/cli/test_cli_status_bar.py b/tests/cli/test_cli_status_bar.py
index d3b4fb193e..16e6699aaa 100644
--- a/tests/cli/test_cli_status_bar.py
+++ b/tests/cli/test_cli_status_bar.py
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ class TestCLIStatusBar:
 
         text = cli_obj._build_status_bar_text(width=120)
 
-        assert "cmp 3" in text
+        assert "🗜️ 3" in text
 
     def test_compression_count_hidden_when_zero(self):
         cli_obj = _attach_agent(
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ class TestCLIStatusBar:
 
         text = cli_obj._build_status_bar_text(width=120)
 
-        assert "cmp" not in text
+        assert "🗜️" not in text
 
     def test_compression_count_shown_in_medium_status_bar(self):
         cli_obj = _attach_agent(
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ class TestCLIStatusBar:
 
         text = cli_obj._build_status_bar_text(width=60)
 
-        assert "cmp 2" in text
+        assert "🗜️ 2" in text
 
     def test_compression_count_hidden_in_narrow_status_bar(self):
         cli_obj = _attach_agent(
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ class TestCLIStatusBar:
 
         text = cli_obj._build_status_bar_text(width=50)
 
-        assert "cmp" not in text
+        assert "🗜️" not in text
 
     def test_compression_count_style_thresholds(self):
         cli_obj = _make_cli()
@@ -297,9 +297,9 @@ class TestCLIStatusBar:
         frags = cli_obj._get_status_bar_fragments()
         frag_texts = [text for _, text in frags]
 
-        assert "cmp 7" in frag_texts
+        assert "🗜️ 7" in frag_texts
         frag_styles = {text: style for style, text in frags}
-        assert frag_styles["cmp 7"] == "class:status-bar-warn"
+        assert frag_styles["🗜️ 7"] == "class:status-bar-warn"
 
     def test_compression_count_absent_from_fragments_when_zero(self):
         cli_obj = _attach_agent(
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ class TestCLIStatusBar:
         frags = cli_obj._get_status_bar_fragments()
         frag_texts = [text for _, text in frags]
 
-        assert not any("cmp" in t for t in frag_texts)
+        assert not any("🗜️" in t for t in frag_texts)
 
     def test_minimal_tui_chrome_threshold(self):
         cli_obj = _make_cli()