diff --git a/gshell-wisdom/gshell-wisdom-core/src/main/java/org/apache/geronimo/gshell/wisdom/shell/ShellImpl.java b/gshell-wisdom/gshell-wisdom-core/src/main/java/org/apache/geronimo/gshell/wisdom/shell/ShellImpl.java
index 7d186bf..a6869f6 100644
--- a/gshell-wisdom/gshell-wisdom-core/src/main/java/org/apache/geronimo/gshell/wisdom/shell/ShellImpl.java
+++ b/gshell-wisdom/gshell-wisdom-core/src/main/java/org/apache/geronimo/gshell/wisdom/shell/ShellImpl.java
@@ -238,7 +238,11 @@
             String message = application.getModel().getBranding().getWelcomeMessage();
             if (message != null) {
                 io.out.print(message);
-                io.out.println(repeat("-", io.getTerminal().getTerminalWidth() - 1));
+                int width = io.getTerminal().getTerminalWidth() - 1;
+                if (width <= 0) {
+                    width = 80;
+                }
+                io.out.println(repeat("-", width));
                 io.out.flush();
             }
         }