diff --git a/makeself-header.sh b/makeself-header.sh
index 760c8a1..6039a9b 100755
--- a/makeself-header.sh
+++ b/makeself-header.sh
@@ -71,7 +71,9 @@ MS_PrintLicense()
   if test x"\$licensetxt" != x; then
     PAGER_PATH=\`exec <&- 2>&-; which \$PAGER || command -v \$PAGER || type \$PAGER\`
     if test -x "\$PAGER_PATH" && test x"\$accept" != xy; then
-      echo "\$licensetxt" | \$PAGER -e
+      if ! echo "\$licensetxt" | \$PAGER -e; then
+        echo "\$licensetxt" | \$PAGER
+      fi
     else
       echo "\$licensetxt"
     fi