diff --git a/src/lcd/i2clcd.cxx b/src/lcd/i2clcd.cxx
index 318c27c1..8d94fa1f 100644
--- a/src/lcd/i2clcd.cxx
+++ b/src/lcd/i2clcd.cxx
@@ -47,6 +47,20 @@ I2CLcd::write (int row, int column, std::string msg) {
     write (msg);
 }
 
+mraa_result_t
+I2CLcd::createChar(uint8_t charSlot, uint8_t charData[]) {
+    mraa_result_t error = MRAA_SUCCESS;
+    charSlot &= 0x07; // only have 8 positions we can set
+    error = i2Cmd(m_i2c_lcd_control, LCD_SETCGRAMADDR | (charSlot << 3));
+    if (error == MRAA_SUCCESS) {
+        for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+            error = i2cData(m_i2c_lcd_control, charData[i]);
+        }
+    }
+
+    return error;
+}
+
 mraa_result_t
 I2CLcd::close() {
     return mraa_i2c_stop(m_i2c_lcd_control);
diff --git a/src/lcd/i2clcd.h b/src/lcd/i2clcd.h
index 57588864..98e73de1 100644
--- a/src/lcd/i2clcd.h
+++ b/src/lcd/i2clcd.h
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ namespace upm {
 #define LCD_5x10DOTS 0x04
 #define LCD_5x8DOTS 0x00
 
+// flags for CGRAM
+#define LCD_SETCGRAMADDR 0x40
+
 #define LCD_EN 0x04 // Enable bit
 #define LCD_RW 0x02 // Read/Write bit
 #define LCD_RS 0x01 // Register select bit
@@ -85,6 +88,7 @@ class I2CLcd {
         virtual mraa_result_t setCursor (int row, int column) = 0;
         virtual mraa_result_t clear () = 0;
         virtual mraa_result_t home () = 0;
+        virtual mraa_result_t createChar(uint8_t charSlot, uint8_t charData[]);
         virtual mraa_result_t i2Cmd (mraa_i2c_context ctx, uint8_t value);
         virtual mraa_result_t i2cReg (mraa_i2c_context ctx, int deviceAdress, int addr, uint8_t data);
         virtual mraa_result_t i2cData (mraa_i2c_context ctx, uint8_t value);