diff --git a/t/test-lib.sh b/t/test-lib.sh
index b7d7100c4e..9e2b71132a 100644
--- a/t/test-lib.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib.sh
@@ -615,6 +615,7 @@ case $(uname -s) in
 	;;
 esac
 
+( COLUMNS=1 && test $COLUMNS = 1 ) && test_set_prereq COLUMNS_CAN_BE_1
 test -z "$NO_PERL" && test_set_prereq PERL
 test -z "$NO_PYTHON" && test_set_prereq PYTHON
 test -n "$USE_LIBPCRE" && test_set_prereq LIBPCRE