diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index e787db8a..25264011 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ byobu (5.128) unreleased; urgency=medium
     usr/bin/byobu-janitor.in:
     - Test if $HOME/.bashrc exists before modifying it (and potentially
       creating it)
+  * usr/bin/byobu.in:
+    - Use readlink if the tty command is not available
   * usr/lib/byobu/disk_io:
     - Ensure the detected mount point device exists
   * usr/lib/byobu/hostname:
diff --git a/usr/bin/byobu.in b/usr/bin/byobu.in
index b4df33ae..fc5096f4 100755
--- a/usr/bin/byobu.in
+++ b/usr/bin/byobu.in
@@ -62,7 +62,11 @@ esac
 export BYOBU_BACKEND
 
 # Store the parent tty
-export BYOBU_TTY=$(tty)
+if eval $BYOBU_TEST tty >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+	export BYOBU_TTY=$(tty)
+else
+	export BYOBU_TTY=$(readlink /proc/$$/fd/0)
+fi
 
 # Get the default window name
 [ -n "$BYOBU_WINDOW_NAME" ] || BYOBU_WINDOW_NAME=-