diff --git a/pre_commit/output.py b/pre_commit/output.py
index 1de4b322..eabb253f 100644
--- a/pre_commit/output.py
+++ b/pre_commit/output.py
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ from pre_commit import color
 
 # TODO: smell: import side-effects
 COLS = int(
-    subprocess.Popen(['tput', 'cols'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE).communicate()[0]
+    subprocess.Popen(
+        ['tput', 'cols'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE
+    ).communicate()[0] or
+    # Default in the case of no terminal
+    80
 )