diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py
index ac81eba29..02934a532 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py
@@ -54,6 +54,10 @@ class TabWidget(QTabWidget):
     tab_index_changed = pyqtSignal(int, int)
     new_tab_requested = pyqtSignal('QUrl', bool, bool)
 
+    # Strings for controlling the mute/audible text
+    MUTE_STRING = '[M] '
+    AUDIBLE_STRING = '[A] '
+
     def __init__(self, win_id, parent=None):
         super().__init__(parent)
         bar = TabBar(win_id, self)
@@ -175,9 +179,9 @@ class TabWidget(QTabWidget):
         fields['private'] = ' [Private Mode] ' if tab.private else ''
         try:
             if tab.audio.is_muted():
-                fields['audio'] = '[M] '
+                fields['audio'] = TabWidget.MUTE_STRING
             elif tab.audio.is_recently_audible():
-                fields['audio'] = '[A] '
+                fields['audio'] = TabWidget.AUDIBLE_STRING
             else:
                 fields['audio'] = ''
         except browsertab.WebTabError: