diff --git a/src/interactive.cpp b/src/interactive.cpp
index a2e5a59f4..90177c74b 100644
--- a/src/interactive.cpp
+++ b/src/interactive.cpp
@@ -58,14 +58,15 @@ int Context::interactive ()
 //  throw std::string ("unimplemented Context::interactive");
 
   // Fake interactive teaser...
-/*
-  WINDOW* w = initscr ();
-  int width  = w->_maxx + 1;
-  int height = w->_maxy + 1;
-*/
+#ifdef FEATURE_NCURSES_COLS
   initscr ();
   int width = COLS;
   int height = LINES;
+#else
+  WINDOW* w = initscr ();
+  int width  = w->_maxx + 1;
+  int height = w->_maxy + 1;
+#endif
 
   (void) nonl ();
   (void) cbreak ();
@@ -141,12 +142,13 @@ int Context::getWidth ()
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBNCURSES
   if (config.get ("curses", true))
   {
-/*
-    WINDOW* w = initscr ();
-    width = w->_maxx + 1;
-*/
+#ifdef FEATURE_NCURSES_COLS
     initscr ();
     width = COLS;
+#else
+    WINDOW* w = initscr ();
+    width = w->_maxx + 1;
+#endif
     endwin ();
 
     std::stringstream out;
diff --git a/src/main.h b/src/main.h
index a5374a460..8735c5e7d 100644
--- a/src/main.h
+++ b/src/main.h
@@ -27,9 +27,10 @@
 #ifndef INCLUDED_MAIN
 #define INCLUDED_MAIN
 
-#define FEATURE_TDB_OPT 1   // TDB Optimization reduces file I/O.
-#define FEATURE_NEW_ID  1   // Echoes back new id.
-#define FEATURE_SHELL   1   // Interactive shell.
+#define FEATURE_TDB_OPT      1   // TDB Optimization reduces file I/O.
+#define FEATURE_NEW_ID       1   // Echoes back new id.
+#define FEATURE_SHELL        1   // Interactive shell.
+#define FEATURE_NCURSES_COLS 1 // Shortcut that avoids WINDOW.
 
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>