diff --git a/lib/sys.js b/lib/sys.js
index caf383400b..4da1c057f2 100644
--- a/lib/sys.js
+++ b/lib/sys.js
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ exports.inspect = function (obj, showHidden, depth, colors) {
         return prev + cur.length + 1;
       },0);
 
-    if (length > 50) {
+    if (length > (require('readline').columns || 50)) {
       output = braces[0]
              + (base === '' ? '' : base + '\n ')
              + ' '