diff --git a/usr/bin/byobu-status b/usr/bin/byobu-status
index b3bec705..71981ae9 100755
--- a/usr/bin/byobu-status
+++ b/usr/bin/byobu-status
@@ -37,8 +37,7 @@ done
 
 # Fix status printing for small terminal sizes
 width=$(tmux list-windows -F "#{session_width}")
-w_last=0
-[ -r "$BYOBU_RUN_DIR/width" ] && read w_last < $BYOBU_RUN_DIR/width 2>/dev/null 1>&2 || w_last=0
+if [ -r "$BYOBU_RUN_DIR/width" ]; then read w_last < $BYOBU_RUN_DIR/width 2>/dev/null 1>&2; else w_last=0; fi
 for w in $width; do
 	if [ "$w" != "$w_last" ]; then
 		tmux set -g status-left-length $(($w*1/4)) >/dev/null 2>&1