diff --git a/conio.h b/conio.h
index 983efc8..fef3a9e 100644
--- a/conio.h
+++ b/conio.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #define CONIO_H_
 
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
 
 /* Attributes */
 #define RESETATTR    0
@@ -94,6 +95,12 @@ static inline void initscr(int *row, int *col)
 	struct termios tc, saved;
 	struct pollfd fd = { STDIN_FILENO, POLLIN, 0 };
 
+	if (!isatty(STDIN_FILENO) || !isatty(STDOUT_FILENO)) {
+		*row = 24;
+		*col = 80;
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/* Disable echo to terminal while probing */
 	tcgetattr(STDERR_FILENO, &tc);
 	saved = tc;