diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 51f47dc3f..d5705f711 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -215,6 +215,8 @@ Unreleased
 -   When defining a parameter, ``default`` is validated with
     ``multiple`` and ``nargs``. More validation is done for values being
     processed as well. :issue:`1806`
+-   ``HelpFormatter.write_text`` uses the full line width when wrapping
+    text. :issue:`1871`
 
 
 Version 7.1.2
diff --git a/src/click/formatting.py b/src/click/formatting.py
index 1e59fc220..ddd2a2f82 100644
--- a/src/click/formatting.py
+++ b/src/click/formatting.py
@@ -195,12 +195,11 @@ def write_text(self, text: str) -> None:
         """Writes re-indented text into the buffer.  This rewraps and
         preserves paragraphs.
         """
-        text_width = max(self.width - self.current_indent, 11)
         indent = " " * self.current_indent
         self.write(
             wrap_text(
                 text,
-                text_width,
+                self.width,
                 initial_indent=indent,
                 subsequent_indent=indent,
                 preserve_paragraphs=True,
diff --git a/tests/test_formatting.py b/tests/test_formatting.py
index ec32bf92f..f957e0128 100644
--- a/tests/test_formatting.py
+++ b/tests/test_formatting.py
@@ -335,3 +335,13 @@ def test_formatting_with_options_metavar_empty(runner):
     cli = click.Command("cli", options_metavar="", params=[click.Argument(["var"])])
     result = runner.invoke(cli, ["--help"])
     assert "Usage: cli VAR\n" in result.output
+
+
+def test_help_formatter_write_text():
+    text = "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit"
+    formatter = click.HelpFormatter(width=len("  Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,"))
+    formatter.current_indent = 2
+    formatter.write_text(text)
+    actual = formatter.getvalue()
+    expected = "  Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,\n  consectetur adipiscing elit\n"
+    assert actual == expected