diff --git a/1dlife b/1dlife
index 55a98a5..7cf7f92 100755
--- a/1dlife
+++ b/1dlife
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
-# Jon Millen's 1D Game of Life in pure Bash
+# Jon Millen's 1D Game of Life in pure Bash (zero dependencies)
 # Usage: echo 'state' | 1dlife [iterations]
 # Created by Luxferre in 2026, released into public domain
 
 ITERS="$1"
-[[ -z "$ITERS" ]] && ITERS=$(($(tput lines) - 1))
+if [[ -z "$ITERS" ]]; then # get the iteration count dynamically
+  shopt -s checkwinsize # enable checking the terminal size
+  :|: # trigger the WINCH signal to get the size
+  ITERS=$((LINES - 1)) # the row count is now in LINES
+fi
 [[ -z "$RENDER_CHAR" ]] && RENDER_CHAR='#'
 
 # read and process the state