diff --git a/src/systemctl.c b/src/systemctl.c
index 556070bcba..6b4f981061 100644
--- a/src/systemctl.c
+++ b/src/systemctl.c
@@ -122,11 +122,6 @@ static pid_t agent_pid = 0;
 
 static int daemon_reload(DBusConnection *bus, char **args, unsigned n);
 
-static void pager_open_if_enabled(void) {
-        if (!arg_no_pager)
-                pager_open();
-}
-
 static bool on_tty(void) {
         static int t = -1;
 
@@ -142,6 +137,13 @@ static bool on_tty(void) {
         return t;
 }
 
+static void pager_open_if_enabled(void) {
+        on_tty();
+
+        if (!arg_no_pager)
+                pager_open();
+}
+
 static void spawn_ask_password_agent(void) {
         pid_t parent;