diff -u b/core/modules/system/css/system.theme.css b/core/modules/system/css/system.theme.css
--- b/core/modules/system/css/system.theme.css
+++ b/core/modules/system/css/system.theme.css
@@ -85,7 +85,9 @@
 
 .form-required:after {
   color: #e00;
-  content: " * ";
+  content: " \204E ";
+  line-height: 1;
+  vertical-align: super;
   speak: none;
 }