diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 65ec4029b..9644ec382 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 
 * Fixed bug where reading from the `_out_` sticky local variable could return
   wrong results ([#2201](https://github.com/pry/pry/pull/2201))
+* Fixed bug where paged output can erroneously display non-visible control
+  characters (`\001` aka `^A` & `\002` aka `^B`)
+  ([#2207](https://github.com/pry/pry/pull/2207))
 
 ### [v0.14.1][v0.14.1] (April 12, 2021)
 
diff --git a/lib/pry/pager.rb b/lib/pry/pager.rb
index e6e408984..fba881bc0 100644
--- a/lib/pry/pager.rb
+++ b/lib/pry/pager.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ class Pager
     class StopPaging < StandardError
     end
 
+    # @return [String] the 'less' executable and its options
+    LESS_PAGER = 'less --RAW-CONTROL-CHARS --raw-control-chars -F -X'
+
     attr_reader :pry_instance
 
     def initialize(pry_instance)
@@ -130,9 +133,8 @@ class SystemPager < NullPager
       def self.default_pager
         pager = Pry::Env['PAGER'] || ''
 
-        # Default to less, and make sure less is being passed the correct
-        # options
-        pager = "less -R -F -X" if pager.strip.empty? || pager =~ /^less\b/
+        # Default to less.
+        pager = LESS_PAGER if pager.strip.empty? || pager =~ /^less\b/
 
         pager
       end