diff --git a/borghelper.sh b/borghelper.sh
index 6058602..8d58b94 100755
--- a/borghelper.sh
+++ b/borghelper.sh
@@ -25,9 +25,15 @@ trapExit () {
 
 
 ### text formatting presets
-err=$(tput bold)$(tput setaf 1)
-norm=$(tput sgr0)
-width=$(tput cols)
+if command -v tput > /dev/null; then
+    err=$(tput bold)$(tput setaf 1)
+    norm=$(tput sgr0)
+    width=$(tput cols)
+else
+    err="[ERROR] "
+    norm=""
+    width=80
+fi
 
 
 ### pre-requisites