diff --git a/lib/internal/print_help.js b/lib/internal/print_help.js
index 9d146719734..00c8330daaa 100644
--- a/lib/internal/print_help.js
+++ b/lib/internal/print_help.js
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ function getArgDescription(type) {
 
 function format({ options, aliases = new Map(), firstColumn, secondColumn }) {
   let text = '';
+  let maxFirstColumnUsed = 0;
 
   for (const [
     name, { helpText, type, value }
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@ function format({ options, aliases = new Map(), firstColumn, secondColumn }) {
     }
 
     text += displayName;
+    maxFirstColumnUsed = Math.max(maxFirstColumnUsed, displayName.length);
     if (displayName.length >= firstColumn)
       text += '\n' + ' '.repeat(firstColumn);
     else
@@ -115,16 +117,26 @@ function format({ options, aliases = new Map(), firstColumn, secondColumn }) {
                    firstColumn).trimLeft() + '\n';
   }
 
+  if (maxFirstColumnUsed < firstColumn - 4) {
+    // If we have more than 4 blank gap spaces, reduce first column width.
+    return format({
+      options,
+      aliases,
+      firstColumn: maxFirstColumnUsed + 2,
+      secondColumn
+    });
+  }
+
   return text;
 }
 
 function print(stream) {
   const { options, aliases } = getOptions();
 
-  // TODO(addaleax): Allow a bit of expansion depending on `stream.columns`
-  // if it is set.
-  const firstColumn = 28;
-  const secondColumn = 40;
+  // Use 75 % of the available width, and at least 70 characters.
+  const width = Math.max(70, (stream.columns || 0) * 0.75);
+  const firstColumn = Math.floor(width * 0.4);
+  const secondColumn = Math.floor(width * 0.57);
 
   options.set('-', { helpText: 'script read from stdin (default; ' +
                                'interactive mode if a tty)' });