diff --git a/home/emacs/init.el b/home/emacs/init.el
index 6212f880..873e7e6d 100644
--- a/home/emacs/init.el
+++ b/home/emacs/init.el
@@ -325,8 +325,50 @@
       citar-symbols '((file "F" . "󰂺")
                       (note "N" . "󰎞")
                       (link "L" . "󰌹")))
-(when (require 'citar nil :noerror)
-  (keymap-global-set "C-c o c o" #'citar-open))
+
+(use-package citar
+  :ensure t
+  :bind (("C-c o c o" . citar-open))
+  :config
+  (defvar citar-indicator-files-icons
+    (citar-indicator-create
+     :symbol (nerd-icons-octicon
+              "nf-oct-file"
+              :face 'nerd-icons-green
+              :v-adjust -0.1)
+     :function #'citar-has-files
+     :padding "  " ; need this because the default padding is too low for these icons
+     :tag "has:files"))
+  (defvar citar-indicator-links-icons
+    (citar-indicator-create
+     :symbol (nerd-icons-octicon
+              "nf-oct-link"
+              :face 'nerd-icons-orange
+              :v-adjust 0.01)
+     :function #'citar-has-links
+     :padding "  "
+     :tag "has:links"))
+  (defvar citar-indicator-notes-icons
+    (citar-indicator-create
+     :symbol (nerd-icons-octicon
+              "nf-oct-note"
+              :face 'nerd-icons-blue
+              :v-adjust -0.3)
+     :function #'citar-has-notes
+     :padding "    "
+     :tag "has:notes"))
+  (defvar citar-indicator-cited-icons
+    (citar-indicator-create
+     :symbol (nerd-icons-octicon
+              "nf-oct-circle"
+              :face 'nerd-icon-green)
+     :function #'citar-is-cited
+     :padding "  "
+     :tag "is:cited"))
+  (setq citar-indicators (list citar-indicator-files-icons
+                               citar-indicator-links-icons
+                               citar-indicator-notes-icons
+                               citar-indicator-cited-icons)))
 
 (setq khalel-import-org-file (expand-file-name "calendar.org" org-directory)
       khalel-import-org-file-read-only nil
diff --git a/home/emacs/init.org b/home/emacs/init.org
index a19893cb..510b5f41 100644
--- a/home/emacs/init.org
+++ b/home/emacs/init.org
@@ -381,8 +381,50 @@ For reference information, see [[https://orgmode.com][Org-mode website]]
         citar-symbols '((file "F" . "󰂺")
                         (note "N" . "󰎞")
                         (link "L" . "󰌹")))
-  (when (require 'citar nil :noerror)
-    (keymap-global-set "C-c o c o" #'citar-open))
+
+  (use-package citar
+    :ensure t
+    :bind (("C-c o c o" . citar-open))
+    :config
+    (defvar citar-indicator-files-icons
+      (citar-indicator-create
+       :symbol (nerd-icons-octicon
+                "nf-oct-file"
+                :face 'nerd-icons-green
+                :v-adjust -0.1)
+       :function #'citar-has-files
+       :padding "  " ; need this because the default padding is too low for these icons
+       :tag "has:files"))
+    (defvar citar-indicator-links-icons
+      (citar-indicator-create
+       :symbol (nerd-icons-octicon
+                "nf-oct-link"
+                :face 'nerd-icons-orange
+                :v-adjust 0.01)
+       :function #'citar-has-links
+       :padding "  "
+       :tag "has:links"))
+    (defvar citar-indicator-notes-icons
+      (citar-indicator-create
+       :symbol (nerd-icons-octicon
+                "nf-oct-note"
+                :face 'nerd-icons-blue
+                :v-adjust -0.3)
+       :function #'citar-has-notes
+       :padding "    "
+       :tag "has:notes"))
+    (defvar citar-indicator-cited-icons
+      (citar-indicator-create
+       :symbol (nerd-icons-octicon
+                "nf-oct-circle"
+                :face 'nerd-icon-green)
+       :function #'citar-is-cited
+       :padding "  "
+       :tag "is:cited"))
+    (setq citar-indicators (list citar-indicator-files-icons
+                                 citar-indicator-links-icons
+                                 citar-indicator-notes-icons
+                                 citar-indicator-cited-icons)))
 #+end_src
 
 ** Khalel