diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions.vim
index 00e1077..521ce64 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions.vim
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ endfunction
 function! airline#extensions#apply_left_override(section1, section2)
   let w:airline_section_a = a:section1
   let w:airline_section_b = a:section2
-  let w:airline_section_c = ''
+  let w:airline_section_c = airline#section#create(['readonly'])
   let w:airline_render_left = 1
   let w:airline_render_right = 0
 endfunction