diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index cfc2f4ea6b3f85ebdedfa953f96785dd3e5e6563..9fe6934c5d125b17ffa5aec0c74aea9abf3417d9 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -2051,9 +2051,8 @@ void titlebar(const char *path)
     if (!newfie) {
 	size_t lenpt = strlenpt(path), start_col;
 
-	/* Don't set dots to TRUE if we have at least 1/5 the length of
-	 * the screen in columns. */
-	dots = (space >= COLS / 5 && lenpt >= space);
+	/* Don't set dots to TRUE if we have fewer than 8 columns. */
+	dots = (space >= 8 && lenpt >= space);
 
 	if (dots) {
 	    start_col = lenpt - space + 3;