diff --git a/gramps/plugins/drawreport/ancestortree.py b/gramps/plugins/drawreport/ancestortree.py
index 2381530a7..c3a33ab21 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/drawreport/ancestortree.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/drawreport/ancestortree.py
@@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ class AncestorTreeOptions(MenuReportOptions):
         disp = TextOption(_("Father\nDisplay Format"), 
                            ["$n",
                             "%s $b" %_BORN,
-                            "{%s $d}" %_DIED] )
+                            "-{%s $d}" %_DIED] )
         disp.set_help(_("Display format for the fathers box."))
         menu.add_option(category_name, "father_disp", disp)
         
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ class AncestorTreeOptions(MenuReportOptions):
                                ["$n",
                                 "%s $b" %_BORN,
                                 "%s $m" %_MARR,
-                                "{%s $d}" %_DIED]
+                                "-{%s $d}" %_DIED]
                             )
         dispMom.set_help(_("Display format for the mothers box."))
         menu.add_option(category_name, "mother_disp", dispMom)
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/drawreport/descendtree.py b/gramps/plugins/drawreport/descendtree.py
index dbb9a6f14..f7d544924 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/drawreport/descendtree.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/drawreport/descendtree.py
@@ -1511,7 +1511,7 @@ class DescendTreeOptions(MenuReportOptions):
         disp = TextOption(_("Descendant\nDisplay Format"),
                            ["$n",
                             "%s $b" %_BORN,
-                            "{%s $d}" %_DIED])
+                            "-{%s $d}" %_DIED])
         disp.set_help(_("Display format for a descendant."))
         menu.add_option(category_name, "descend_disp", disp)
 
@@ -1536,7 +1536,7 @@ class DescendTreeOptions(MenuReportOptions):
         sdisp = TextOption(_("Spousal\nDisplay Format"),
                            ["$n",
                             "%s $b" %_BORN,
-                            "{%s $d}" %_DIED])
+                            "-{%s $d}" %_DIED])
         sdisp.set_help(_("Display format for a spouse."))
         menu.add_option(category_name, "spouse_disp", sdisp)