diff --git a/lib/nodemon.js b/lib/nodemon.js
index b3badea7..ce649cb6 100644
--- a/lib/nodemon.js
+++ b/lib/nodemon.js
@@ -39,7 +39,9 @@ function nodemon(settings) {
   }
 
   if (settings.help) {
-    process.stdout._handle.setBlocking(true); // nodejs/node#6456
+    if (process.stdout.isTTY) {
+      process.stdout._handle.setBlocking(true); // nodejs/node#6456
+    }
     console.log(help(settings.help));
     if (!config.required) {
       process.exit(0);