diff --git etc/zsh/zshrc etc/zsh/zshrc
index 83dc68b..773b453 100644
--- etc/zsh/zshrc
+++ etc/zsh/zshrc
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ BATTERY=${BATTERY:-0}
 GRMLSMALL_SPECIFIC=${GRMLSMALL_SPECIFIC:-1}
 GRML_ALWAYS_LOAD_ALL=${GRML_ALWAYS_LOAD_ALL:-0}
diff --git etc/zsh/zshrc etc/zsh/zshrc
index 83dc68b..773b453 100644
--- etc/zsh/zshrc
+++ etc/zsh/zshrc
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ BATTERY=${BATTERY:-0}
 GRMLSMALL_SPECIFIC=${GRMLSMALL_SPECIFIC:-1}
 GRML_ALWAYS_LOAD_ALL=${GRML_ALWAYS_LOAD_ALL:-0}
 ZSH_NO_DEFAULT_LOCALE=${ZSH_NO_DEFAULT_LOCALE:-0}
+PATH_LENGTH=${PATH_LENGTH:-40}

 # }}}

@@ -2118,7 +2119,7 @@ fi

 # don't use colors on dumb terminals (like emacs):
 if [[ "$TERM" == dumb ]] ; then
-    PROMPT="${EXITCODE}${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}%n@%m %40<...<%B%~%b%<< "
+    PROMPT="${EXITCODE}${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}%n@%m %${PATH_LENGTH}<...<%B%~%b%<< "
 else
     # only if $GRMLPROMPT is set (e.g. via 'GRMLPROMPT=1 zsh') use the extended prompt
     # set variable identifying the chroot you work in (used in the prompt below)
@@ -2128,9 +2129,9 @@ ${BLUE}%n${NO_COLOUR}@%m %40<...<%B%~%b%<< "
     else
         # This assembles the primary prompt string
         if (( EUID != 0 )); then
-            PROMPT="${RED}${EXITCODE}${WHITE}${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}${BLUE}%n${NO_CO
+            PROMPT="${RED}${EXITCODE}${WHITE}${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}${BLUE}%n${NO_CO
         else
-            PROMPT="${BLUE}${EXITCODE}${WHITE}${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}${RED}%n${NO_CO
+            PROMPT="${BLUE}${EXITCODE}${WHITE}${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}${RED}%n${NO_CO
         fi
     fi
 fi
@@ -2143,7 +2144,7 @@ fi

 # if we are inside a grml-chroot set a specific prompt theme
 if [[ -n "$GRML_CHROOT" ]] ; then
-    PROMPT="%{$fg[red]%}(CHROOT) %{$fg_bold[red]%}%n%{$fg_no_bold[white]%}@%m %40<...<%B%~%b%<<
+    PROMPT="%{$fg[red]%}(CHROOT) %{$fg_bold[red]%}%n%{$fg_no_bold[white]%}@%m %${path_lenght}<.
 fi
 # }}}