diff --git a/functions/utilities.zsh b/functions/utilities.zsh
index d99da411..5d32370c 100755
--- a/functions/utilities.zsh
+++ b/functions/utilities.zsh
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ function _p9k_g_expand() {
 #   _p9k_prompt_length $'%{a\b%Gb%}' => 1
 function _p9k_prompt_length() {
   emulate -L zsh
+  local COLUMNS=1024
   local -i x y=$#1 m
   if (( y )); then
     while (( ${${(%):-$1%$y(l.1.0)}[-1]} )); do