diff --git a/src/app.css b/src/app.css
index 6f5e2a68..76a7c72c 100644
--- a/src/app.css
+++ b/src/app.css
@@ -2026,71 +2026,86 @@ body > .szh-menu-container {
   text-shadow: none;
 }
 
-/* DONUT METER */
+/* CHAR COUNTER */
 
-meter.donut {
-  appearance: none;
-}
-
-meter.donut::-webkit-meter-inner-element,
-meter.donut::-webkit-meter-bar,
-meter.donut::-webkit-meter-optimum-value,
-meter.donut::-webkit-meter-suboptimum-value,
-meter.donut::-webkit-meter-even-less-good-value {
-  display: none;
-}
-
-meter.donut::-moz-meter-bar {
-  background: transparent;
-}
-
-meter.donut {
-  position: relative;
+.char-counter {
   --dimension: 24px;
-  --border-width: 2px;
-  --middle-circle-radius: calc(var(--dimension) / 2 - var(--border-width));
-  width: var(--dimension);
-  height: var(--dimension);
-  border-radius: 50%;
-  --fill: calc(var(--percentage) * 1%);
-  --color: var(--link-color);
-  --middle-circle: radial-gradient(
-    circle at 50% 50%,
-    var(--bg-color) var(--middle-circle-radius),
-    transparent var(--middle-circle-radius)
-  );
-  background-image: var(--middle-circle),
-    conic-gradient(var(--color) var(--fill), var(--outline-color) 0);
-  transform: scale(0.7);
-  transition: transform 0.2s ease-in-out;
-}
-meter.donut.warning {
-  --color: var(--orange-color);
-  transform: scale(1);
-}
-meter.donut.danger {
-  --color: var(--red-color);
-  transform: scale(1);
-}
-meter.donut.explode {
-  background-image: none;
-  transform: scale(1);
-}
-meter.donut:is(.warning, .danger, .explode):after {
-  content: attr(data-left);
-  position: absolute;
-  top: 50%;
-  left: 50%;
-  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
-  font-size: 12px;
-  color: var(--text-insignificant-color);
-}
-meter.donut:is(.danger, .explode):after {
-  color: var(--red-color);
-}
-meter.donut[hidden] {
+  min-width: var(--dimension);
+  min-height: var(--dimension);
+  position: relative;
   display: inline-block;
-  visibility: hidden;
+
+  &[hidden] {
+    visibility: hidden;
+  }
+
+  * {
+    pointer-events: none;
+  }
+
+  meter {
+    appearance: none;
+    position: relative;
+    --border-width: 2px;
+    --middle-circle-radius: calc(var(--dimension) / 2 - var(--border-width));
+    width: var(--dimension);
+    height: var(--dimension);
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    --fill: calc(var(--percentage) * 1%);
+    --color: var(--link-color);
+    --middle-circle: radial-gradient(
+      circle at 50% 50%,
+      var(--bg-color) var(--middle-circle-radius),
+      transparent var(--middle-circle-radius)
+    );
+    background-image: var(--middle-circle),
+      conic-gradient(var(--color) var(--fill), var(--outline-color) 0);
+    transform: scale(0.7);
+    transition: transform 0.2s ease-in-out;
+
+    &::-webkit-meter-inner-element,
+    &::-webkit-meter-bar,
+    &::-webkit-meter-optimum-value,
+    &::-webkit-meter-suboptimum-value,
+    &::-webkit-meter-even-less-good-value {
+      display: none;
+    }
+
+    &::-moz-meter-bar {
+      background: transparent;
+    }
+
+    &.warning {
+      --color: var(--orange-color);
+      transform: scale(1);
+    }
+    &.danger {
+      --color: var(--red-color);
+      transform: scale(1);
+    }
+    &.explode {
+      background-image: none;
+      transform: scale(1);
+    }
+    &:is(.warning, .danger, .explode) + .counter {
+      opacity: 1;
+      color: var(--text-insignificant-color);
+    }
+    &:is(.danger, .explode) + .counter {
+      opacity: 1;
+      color: var(--red-color);
+    }
+  }
+
+  .counter {
+    line-height: 1;
+    opacity: 0;
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 50%;
+    left: 50%;
+    transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
+    font-size: 12px;
+  }
 }
 
 /* SHINY PILL */
diff --git a/src/components/compose.jsx b/src/components/compose.jsx
index 3ab1d488..e4fd27b6 100644
--- a/src/components/compose.jsx
+++ b/src/components/compose.jsx
@@ -1662,27 +1662,31 @@ function CharCountMeter({ maxCharacters = 500, hidden }) {
   const charCount = snapStates.composerCharacterCount;
   const leftChars = maxCharacters - charCount;
   if (hidden) {
-    return <meter class="donut" hidden />;
+    return <span class="char-counter" hidden />;
   }
   return (
-    <meter
-      class={`donut ${
-        leftChars <= -10
-          ? 'explode'
-          : leftChars <= 0
-          ? 'danger'
-          : leftChars <= 20
-          ? 'warning'
-          : ''
-      }`}
-      value={charCount}
-      max={maxCharacters}
-      data-left={leftChars}
+    <span
+      class="char-counter"
       title={`${leftChars}/${maxCharacters}`}
       style={{
         '--percentage': (charCount / maxCharacters) * 100,
       }}
-    />
+    >
+      <meter
+        class={`${
+          leftChars <= -10
+            ? 'explode'
+            : leftChars <= 0
+            ? 'danger'
+            : leftChars <= 20
+            ? 'warning'
+            : ''
+        }`}
+        value={charCount}
+        max={maxCharacters}
+      />
+      <span class="counter">{leftChars}</span>
+    </span>
   );
 }