diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 41be7c42..95433775 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 byobu (5.35) unreleased; urgency=low
 
-  * UNRELEASED
+  * usr/bin/byobu:
+    - these ulimit tests are bash-specific
 
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:14:29 -0500
 
diff --git a/usr/bin/byobu b/usr/bin/byobu
index d01232ba..15d5ebbb 100755
--- a/usr/bin/byobu
+++ b/usr/bin/byobu
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@ if [ "$#" = "1" ]; then
 	case "$1" in
 		-v|--version)
 			echo "$PKG version $VERSION"
-			if [ -n "$BYOBU_ULIMIT" ]; then
+			if $BYOBU_TEST bash >/dev/null 2>&1; then
 				# Check ulimits
-				[ $($BYOBU_ULIMIT -n) -ge 15 ] || echo "WARNING: ulimit -n is too low" 1>&2
-				[ $($BYOBU_ULIMIT -u) -ge 1600 ] || echo "WARNING: ulimit -u is too low" 1>&2
+				[ $(bash -c "ulimit -n") -ge 15 ] || echo "WARNING: ulimit -n is too low" 1>&2
+				[ $(bash -c "ulimit -u") -ge 1600 ] || echo "WARNING: ulimit -u is too low" 1>&2
 			fi
 			exec $BYOBU_BACKEND $BYOBU_ARG_VERSION
 			exit 0