diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 073a92d..5a1fe86 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -39,16 +39,16 @@ export default function cliTruncate(text, columns, options = {}) {
 		return '';
 	}
 
-	if (columns === 1) {
-		return truncationCharacter;
-	}
-
 	const length = stringWidth(text);
 
 	if (length <= columns) {
 		return text;
 	}
 
+	if (columns === 1) {
+		return truncationCharacter;
+	}
+
 	// ANSI escape sequence constants
 	const ANSI = {
 		ESC: 27,
diff --git a/test.js b/test.js
index 8725aec..38352f2 100644
--- a/test.js
+++ b/test.js
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ test('main', t => {
 	t.is(cliTruncate('unicorn', 6, {position: 'start'}), '…icorn');
 	t.is(cliTruncate('unicorn', 5, {position: 'middle'}), 'un…rn');
 	t.is(cliTruncate('unicorns', 6, {position: 'middle'}), 'uni…ns');
+	t.is(cliTruncate('u', 1), 'u');
 });
 
 test('space option', t => {