diff --git a/src/conky.c b/src/conky.c
index ac758241..01255234 100644
--- a/src/conky.c
+++ b/src/conky.c
@@ -3799,26 +3799,29 @@ static void generate_text_internal(char *p, int p_max_size,
 #endif
 			OBJ(execbar) {
 				double barnum;
-#ifndef X11
 				int i;
-#endif
 
 				read_exec(obj->data.s, p, text_buffer_size);
 				barnum = get_barnum(p);
 
 				if (barnum >= 0.0) {
 #ifdef X11
-					barnum /= 100;
-					new_bar(p, obj->a, obj->b, round_to_int(barnum * 255.0));
-#else
-					barnum = round_to_int( ( barnum * obj->a ) / 100);
-					for(i=0; i<barnum; i++) {
-						*(p+i)='#';
+					if(output_methods & TO_X) {
+						barnum /= 100;
+						new_bar(p, obj->a, obj->b, round_to_int(barnum * 255.0));
+					}else{
+#endif
+						if(!obj->a) obj->a = DEFAULT_BAR_WIDTH_NO_X;
+						barnum = round_to_int( ( barnum * obj->a ) / 100);
+						for(i=0; i<barnum; i++) {
+							*(p+i)='#';
+						}
+						for(; i < obj->a; i++) {
+							*(p+i)='_';
+						}
+						*(p+i)=0;
+#ifdef X11
 					}
-					for(; i < obj->a; i++) {
-						*(p+i)='_';
-					}
-					*(p+i)=0;
 #endif
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/src/conky.h b/src/conky.h
index b12952ec..bbbdc14a 100644
--- a/src/conky.h
+++ b/src/conky.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 #define FALSE 0
 #define TRUE 1
 
+#define DEFAULT_BAR_WIDTH_NO_X 10
 
 #if !defined(__GNUC__)
 #  define __attribute__(x) /* nothing */
diff --git a/src/specials.c b/src/specials.c
index 3d57f3cb..0c6f84cc 100644
--- a/src/specials.c
+++ b/src/specials.c
@@ -42,12 +42,10 @@ struct special_t *specials = NULL;
 
 unsigned int special_count;
 
-#ifdef X11
 int default_bar_width = 0, default_bar_height = 6;
+#ifdef X11
 int default_graph_width = 0, default_graph_height = 25;
 int default_gauge_width = 50, default_gauge_height = 25;
-#else
-int default_bar_width = 10, default_bar_height = 1;
 #endif
 
 /*