diff --git a/kitty/tab_bar.py b/kitty/tab_bar.py
index 29662a873..e32d617f5 100644
--- a/kitty/tab_bar.py
+++ b/kitty/tab_bar.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ class TabBar:
         s = self.screen
         s.cursor.x = 0
         s.erase_in_line(2, False)
-        max_title_length = (self.screen_geometry.xnum // max(1, len(data))) - 1
+        max_title_length = max(1, (self.screen_geometry.xnum // max(1, len(data))) - 1)
         cr = []
         last_tab = data[-1] if data else None