diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb b/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb
index f8965d090f..79f739826c 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ def puts_columns items, cols = 4
     items.concat("\n") unless items.empty?
 
     # determine the best width to display for different console sizes
-    console_width = `/bin/stty size`.chomp.split(" ").last
+    console_width = `/bin/stty size`.chomp.split(" ").last.to_i
+    console_width = 80 if console_width <= 0
     longest = items.sort_by { |item| item.length }.last
     optimal_col_width = (console_width.to_f / (longest.length + 2).to_f).floor
     cols = optimal_col_width > 1 ? optimal_col_width : 1