diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index edd0cdb6..825307ff 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1231,7 +1231,7 @@ release:
 	  CLIENT_CFLAGS="$(CLIENT_CFLAGS)" SERVER_CFLAGS="$(SERVER_CFLAGS)" V=$(V)
 
 ifneq ($(call bin_path, tput),)
-  TERM_COLUMNS=$(shell echo $$((`tput cols`-4)))
+  TERM_COLUMNS=$(shell if c=`tput cols`; then echo $$(($$c-4)); else echo 76; fi)
 else
   TERM_COLUMNS=76
 endif