diff --git a/src/init.rs b/src/init.rs
index 9bb7ad9b..41aaac04 100644
--- a/src/init.rs
+++ b/src/init.rs
@@ -208,19 +208,24 @@ ever drawn once (for the prompt immediately after it is run).
 */
 
 const ZSH_INIT: &str = r##"
+zmodload zsh/parameter  # Needed to access jobstates variable for NUM_JOBS
+
 # Will be run before every prompt draw
 starship_precmd() {
     # Save the status, because commands in this pipeline will change $?
     STATUS=$?
 
+    # Use length of jobstates array as number of jobs. Expansion fails inside
+    # quotes so we set it here and then use the value later on.
+    NUM_JOBS=$#jobstates  
     # Compute cmd_duration, if we have a time to consume
     if [[ ! -z "${STARSHIP_START_TIME+1}" ]]; then
         STARSHIP_END_TIME="$(date +%s)"
         STARSHIP_DURATION=$((STARSHIP_END_TIME - STARSHIP_START_TIME))
-        PROMPT="$(## STARSHIP ## prompt --status=$STATUS --cmd-duration=$STARSHIP_DURATION --jobs="$(jobs | wc -l)")"
+        PROMPT="$(## STARSHIP ## prompt --status=$STATUS --cmd-duration=$STARSHIP_DURATION --jobs="$NUM_JOBS")"
         unset STARSHIP_START_TIME
     else
-        PROMPT="$(## STARSHIP ## prompt --status=$STATUS --jobs="$(jobs | wc -l)")"
+        PROMPT="$(## STARSHIP ## prompt --status=$STATUS --jobs="$NUM_JOBS")"
     fi
 }
 starship_preexec(){