diff --git a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/FontUtil.java b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/FontUtil.java
index f9505b01f070..12a05b7b50f0 100644
--- a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/FontUtil.java
+++ b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/FontUtil.java
@@ -22,7 +22,16 @@ import java.awt.*;
 public class FontUtil {
   @NotNull
   public static String rightArrow(@NotNull Font font) {
-    char rightArrow = '\u2192';
-    return font.canDisplay(rightArrow) ? String.valueOf(rightArrow) : "->";
+    return canDisplay(font, '\u2192', "->");
+  }
+
+  @NotNull
+  public static String upArrow(@NotNull Font font, @NotNull String defaultValue) {
+    return canDisplay(font, '\u2191', defaultValue);
+  }
+
+  @NotNull
+  public static String canDisplay(@NotNull Font font, char value, @NotNull String defaultValue) {
+    return font.canDisplay(value) ? String.valueOf(value) : defaultValue;
   }
 }
diff --git a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/ui/UIUtil.java b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/ui/UIUtil.java
index 631dbd2c7171..41b7da052c2b 100644
--- a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/ui/UIUtil.java
+++ b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/ui/UIUtil.java
@@ -3281,6 +3281,11 @@ public class UIUtil {
     return FontUtil.rightArrow(getLabelFont());
   }
 
+  @NotNull
+  public static String upArrow(@NotNull String defaultValue) {
+    return FontUtil.upArrow(getLabelFont(), defaultValue);
+  }
+
   public static EmptyBorder getTextAlignBorder(@NotNull JToggleButton alignSource) {
     ButtonUI ui = alignSource.getUI();
     int leftGap = alignSource.getIconTextGap();