diff --git a/compose/cli/formatter.py b/compose/cli/formatter.py
index 13794b89a..c1f43ed7a 100644
--- a/compose/cli/formatter.py
+++ b/compose/cli/formatter.py
@@ -2,20 +2,25 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import logging
-import os
+import shutil
 
 import six
 import texttable
 
 from compose.cli import colors
 
+if hasattr(shutil, "get_terminal_size"):
+    from shutil import get_terminal_size
+else:
+    from backports.shutil_get_terminal_size import get_terminal_size
+
 
 def get_tty_width():
-    tty_size = os.popen('stty size 2> /dev/null', 'r').read().split()
-    if len(tty_size) != 2:
+    try:
+        width, _ = get_terminal_size()
+        return int(width)
+    except OSError:
         return 0
-    _, width = tty_size
-    return int(width)
 
 
 class Formatter:
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index ed1c87693..f2e66b34d 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+backports.shutil_get_terminal_size==1.0.0
 backports.ssl-match-hostname==3.5.0.1; python_version < '3'
 cached-property==1.3.0
 certifi==2017.4.17
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index c3e214c22..23ae08a12 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ extras_require = {
     ':python_version < "3.2"': ['subprocess32 >= 3.5.4, < 4'],
     ':python_version < "3.4"': ['enum34 >= 1.0.4, < 2'],
     ':python_version < "3.5"': ['backports.ssl_match_hostname >= 3.5, < 4'],
-    ':python_version < "3.3"': ['ipaddress >= 1.0.16, < 2'],
+    ':python_version < "3.3"': ['backports.shutil_get_terminal_size == 1.0.0',
+                                'ipaddress >= 1.0.16, < 2'],
     ':sys_platform == "win32"': ['colorama >= 0.4, < 1'],
     'socks': ['PySocks >= 1.5.6, != 1.5.7, < 2'],
 }