diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d3a8fb3..8fffe71 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -60,18 +60,18 @@ Simply add a `git-check-assertions` block to a commit message, e.g.:
 
 ~~~
 ```git-check-assertions
-[success] dotnet build
-[success] dotnet test --no-build
+✓ dotnet build
+✓ dotnet test --no-build
 ```
 ~~~
 
 Each block is parsed line-by-line:
 
-* A line starting with `[success] ` runs the rest of the line as a shell command and asserts that it exits with status `0`.
-* A line starting with `[failure] ` runs the rest of the line as a shell command and asserts that it exits with a non-zero status.
+* A line starting with `[success] ` or `✓ ` runs the rest of the line as a shell command and asserts that it exits with status `0`.
+* A line starting with `[failure] ` or `✗ ` runs the rest of the line as a shell command and asserts that it exits with a non-zero status.
 * Any following non-empty line belongs to the most recent command and asserts that the combined stdout/stderr from that command contains that string.
 
-Blank lines are ignored. A new `[success]` or `[failure]` line starts a new command block.
+Blank lines are ignored. A new `[success]`, `[failure]`, `✓`, or `✗` line starts a new command block.
 
 ## Multiple blocks in one commit message
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ Assert that a commit builds:
 
 ~~~
 ```git-check-assertions
-[success] dotnet build
+✓ dotnet build
 ```
 ~~~
 
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ Assert that a commit builds and that the tests succeed:
 
 ~~~
 ```git-check-assertions
-[success] dotnet build
-[success] dotnet test --no-build
+✓ dotnet build
+✓ dotnet test --no-build
 ```
 ~~~
 
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ Assert that a commit builds, but that the tests do not succeed:
 
 ~~~
 ```git-check-assertions
-[success] dotnet build
-[failure] dotnet test --no-build
+✓ dotnet build
+✗ dotnet test --no-build
 ```
 ~~~
 
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ Assert that a commit builds, and that the tests fail with the error that you exp
 
 ~~~
 ```git-check-assertions
-[success] dotnet build
-[failure] dotnet test --no-build
+✓ dotnet build
+✗ dotnet test --no-build
 Invalid URL
 ```
 ~~~
@@ -125,10 +125,10 @@ Assert that a specific change breaks the tests (as discussed [here](https://sven
 
 ~~~
 ```git-check-assertions
-[success] dotnet test
+✓ dotnet test
 
-[success] sed -i '/crucial code/d' Main.fs
-[failure] dotnet test
+✓ sed -i '/crucial code/d' Main.fs
+✗ dotnet test
 ```
 ~~~
 
@@ -136,10 +136,10 @@ Assert that a specific change in a commit is necessary for the tests to succeed:
 
 ~~~
 ```git-check-assertions
-[success] dotnet test
+✓ dotnet test
 
-[success] git checkout HEAD~ Main.fs
-[failure] dotnet test
+✓ git checkout HEAD~ Main.fs
+✗ dotnet test
 Invalid URL
 ```
 ~~~
diff --git a/bin/git-check-assertions b/bin/git-check-assertions
index 1d31324..f8ef8c0 100755
--- a/bin/git-check-assertions
+++ b/bin/git-check-assertions
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ for commit_hash in "${commits[@]}"; do
 			    if not line.strip():
 			        continue
 
-			    match = re.match(r"^\\[(success|failure)\\]\\s+(.+)$", line)
+			    match = re.match(r"^(\\[success\\]|\\[failure\\]|✓|✗)\\s+(.+)$", line)
 			    if match:
 			        current_step = {
-			            "expects_success": match.group(1) == "success",
+			            "expects_success": match.group(1) in ("[success]", "✓"),
 			            "command": match.group(2),
 			            "assertions": [],
 			        }
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ for commit_hash in "${commits[@]}"; do
 			    if current_step is None:
 			        print(
 			            f"DSL parse error on line {line_number}: "
-			            "assertion text must follow [success] or [failure]."
+			            "assertion text must follow [success], [failure], ✓, or ✗."
 			        )
 			        sys.exit(1)
 
diff --git a/test/git-check-assertions.bats b/test/git-check-assertions.bats
index 09beeba..ccd0a2f 100755
--- a/test/git-check-assertions.bats
+++ b/test/git-check-assertions.bats
@@ -368,6 +368,34 @@ commit_with_assertion() {
   assert_output --partial "Expected command to fail, but it succeeded."
 }
 
+@test "a ✓ command should succeed if the executed command succeeded" {
+  git checkout -b feature
+  commit_with_assertion '✓ exit 0'
+
+  run git-check-assertions
+
+  assert_success
+}
+
+@test "a ✗ command should succeed if the executed command failed" {
+  git checkout -b feature
+  commit_with_assertion '✗ exit 1'
+
+  run git-check-assertions
+
+  assert_success
+}
+
+@test "you can mix symbols and bracketed asserts in the same block" {
+  git checkout -b feature
+  commit_with_assertion $'✓ echo hello\nhello\n[failure] exit 0'
+
+  run git-check-assertions
+
+  assert_failure
+  assert_output --partial "Expected command to fail, but it succeeded."
+}
+
 @test "an output line should succeed if the output contains the given string" {
   git checkout -b feature
   commit_with_assertion $'[success] echo hello\nhello'