diff --git a/lib/readline.js b/lib/readline.js
index f38d4de479..a87ba1ea5d 100644
--- a/lib/readline.js
+++ b/lib/readline.js
@@ -96,12 +96,12 @@ function Interface(input, output, completer) {
     this.historyIndex = -1;
 
     var winSize = output.getWindowSize();
-    exports.columns = winSize[1];
+    exports.columns = winSize[0];
 
     if (process.listeners('SIGWINCH').length === 0) {
       process.on('SIGWINCH', function() {
         var winSize = output.getWindowSize();
-        exports.columns = winSize[1];
+        exports.columns = winSize[0];
       });
     }
   }