diff --git a/lib/irb/pager.rb b/lib/irb/pager.rb
index a0db5e93b41d56..d503487865dd44 100644
--- a/lib/irb/pager.rb
+++ b/lib/irb/pager.rb
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def page_content(content, **options)
       end
 
       def page(retain_content: false)
-        if IRB.conf[:USE_PAGER] && STDIN.tty? && pager = setup_pager(retain_content: retain_content)
+        if should_page? && pager = setup_pager(retain_content: retain_content)
           begin
             pid = pager.pid
             yield pager
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ def page(retain_content: false)
 
       private
 
+      def should_page?
+        IRB.conf[:USE_PAGER] && STDIN.tty? && ENV["TERM"] != "dumb"
+      end
+
       def content_exceeds_screen_height?(content)
         screen_height, screen_width = begin
           Reline.get_screen_size