diff --git a/lisp/ChangeLog b/lisp/ChangeLog
index 5df1a68684a..d52831ce560 100644
--- a/lisp/ChangeLog
+++ b/lisp/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2003-07-19  Markus Rost  <rost@math.ohio-state.edu>
+
+	* textmodes/artist.el (artist-erase-char): Fix default value using
+	?\s.
+
 2003-07-19  John Paul Wallington  <jpw@gnu.org>
 
 	* textmodes/artist.el (artist-butlast-fn, artist-draw-sline)
diff --git a/lisp/textmodes/artist.el b/lisp/textmodes/artist.el
index f762ec97e9e..b973290725c 100644
--- a/lisp/textmodes/artist.el
+++ b/lisp/textmodes/artist.el
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ strangely.")
   "Char to use when filling.")
 (make-variable-buffer-local 'artist-fill-char)
 
-(defvar artist-erase-char ?\
+(defvar artist-erase-char ?\s
   "Char to use when erasing.")
 (make-variable-buffer-local 'artist-erase-char)