diff --git a/bash/bashrc.common b/bash/bashrc.common
index 9bbca29..0406513 100644
--- a/bash/bashrc.common
+++ b/bash/bashrc.common
@@ -7,10 +7,20 @@ add_to_path() {
 }
 
 # Define the colors used by the prompt
-T_B=$(tput setaf 4) # Blue
-T_G=$(tput setaf 2) # Green
-T_Y=$(tput setaf 3) # Yellow
-T_S=$(tput sgr0)    # Reset
+if [[ ! -z $TERM && "$TERM" != "dumb" ]]
+then
+    T_B=$(tput setaf 4) # Blue
+    T_G=$(tput setaf 2) # Green
+    T_Y=$(tput setaf 3) # Yellow
+    T_S=$(tput sgr0)    # Reset
+else
+    # We've probably been invoked by an SSH command, there's no terminal
+    # to deal with. Don't bother coloring the prompt.
+    T_B=''
+    T_G=''
+    T_Y=''
+    T_S=''
+fi
 
 # Import the Git prompt shell functions. These can be found
 # @github:git/git/contrib/completion/git_prompt.sh