diff --git a/aider/mdstream.py b/aider/mdstream.py
index ba80849ad..8820d7261 100755
--- a/aider/mdstream.py
+++ b/aider/mdstream.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ class MarkdownStream:
     def _spin(self):
         """Background thread that keeps the spinner moving until stopped."""
         while not self._spinner_stop_event.is_set():
-            time.sleep(0.1)
+            time.sleep(0.15)
             self.spinner.step()
         self.spinner.end()
 
diff --git a/aider/utils.py b/aider/utils.py
index f72528019..ccd5fc334 100644
--- a/aider/utils.py
+++ b/aider/utils.py
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ class Spinner:
                 sys.stdout.flush()
                 sys.stdout.write("\b\b  \b\b")  # Backspace, write spaces, backspace
                 sys.stdout.flush()
-                self.scanner_char = "■"  # Unicode
+                self.scanner_char = "≡"  # Unicode
                 self.trail_char = "─"  # Unicode
             except UnicodeEncodeError:
                 pass  # Stick to ASCII fallbacks
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ class Spinner:
             # We also need to backspace over the closing bracket ']'
             num_backspaces = chars_in_content_after_scanner + 1
 
-            num_backspaces = max(0, num_backspaces)  # Ensure not negative
+            num_backspaces = max(0, num_backspaces) + 1  # Ensure not negative
             sys.stdout.write("\b" * num_backspaces)
 
         sys.stdout.flush()  # Flush after all writes for this frame
@@ -433,8 +433,8 @@ def printable_shell_command(cmd_list):
 
 def main():
     spinner = Spinner("Running spinner...")
-    for _ in range(40):  # 40 steps * 0.25 seconds = 10 seconds
-        time.sleep(0.25)
+    for _ in range(300):
+        time.sleep(0.15)
         spinner.step()
     spinner.end()