diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index a185be710..741de9138 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -515,6 +515,7 @@ E void FDECL(switch_symbols, (int));
 E void FDECL(assign_graphics, (int));
 E void NDECL(init_r_symbols);
 E void NDECL(init_symbols);
+E void NDECL(update_bouldersym);
 E void NDECL(init_showsyms);
 E void NDECL(init_l_symbols);
 E void FDECL(clear_symsetentry, (int,BOOLEAN_P));
diff --git a/src/drawing.c b/src/drawing.c
index d78668e0a..7967831d3 100644
--- a/src/drawing.c
+++ b/src/drawing.c
@@ -350,6 +350,14 @@ init_symbols()
 	init_r_symbols();
 }
 
+void
+update_bouldersym()
+{
+    showsyms[SYM_BOULDER + SYM_OFF_X] = iflags.bouldersym;
+    l_syms[SYM_BOULDER + SYM_OFF_X] = iflags.bouldersym;
+    r_syms[SYM_BOULDER + SYM_OFF_X] = iflags.bouldersym;
+}
+
 void
 init_showsyms()
 {
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index cc27a00f7..ec14cf766 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -744,6 +744,8 @@ initoptions_finish()
 	/* result in the player's preferred fruit [better than "\033"].	*/
 	obj_descr[SLIME_MOLD].oc_name = "fruit";
 
+        if (iflags.bouldersym) update_bouldersym();
+
 	reglyph_darkroom();
 
 	return;