diff --git a/Lib/test/test_argparse.py b/Lib/test/test_argparse.py
index c06c940..9cb15c7 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_argparse.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_argparse.py
@@ -2973,6 +2973,60 @@
         0.1
         '''
 
+class TestShortColumns(HelpTestCase):
+    '''Test extremely small number of columns.
+
+    TestCase prevents "COLUMNS" from being too small in the tests themselves,
+    but we don't want any exceptions thrown in such case. Only ugly representation.
+    '''
+    def setUp(self):
+        env = support.EnvironmentVarGuard()
+        env.set("COLUMNS", '15')
+        self.addCleanup(env.__exit__)
+
+    parser_signature            = TestHelpBiggerOptionals.parser_signature
+    argument_signatures         = TestHelpBiggerOptionals.argument_signatures
+    argument_group_signatures   = TestHelpBiggerOptionals.argument_group_signatures
+    usage = '''\
+        usage: PROG
+               [-h]
+               [-v]
+               [-x]
+               [--y Y]
+               foo
+               bar
+        '''
+    help = usage + '''\
+
+        DESCRIPTION
+
+        positional arguments:
+          foo
+            FOO HELP
+          bar
+            BAR HELP
+
+        optional arguments:
+          -h, --help
+            show this
+            help
+            message and
+            exit
+          -v, --version
+            show
+            program's
+            version
+            number and
+            exit
+          -x
+            X HELP
+          --y Y
+            Y HELP
+
+        EPILOG
+    '''
+    version                     = TestHelpBiggerOptionals.version
+
 
 class TestHelpBiggerOptionalGroups(HelpTestCase):
     """Make sure that argument help aligns when options are longer"""
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_optparse.py b/Lib/test/test_optparse.py
index 78de278..eaee504 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_optparse.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_optparse.py
@@ -1443,6 +1443,39 @@
   -h, --help         show this help message and exit
 """
 
+_expected_very_help_short_lines = """\
+Usage: bar.py [options]
+
+Options:
+  -a APPLE
+    throw
+    APPLEs at
+    basket
+  -b NUM, --boo=NUM
+    shout
+    "boo!" NUM
+    times (in
+    order to
+    frighten
+    away all
+    the evil
+    spirits
+    that cause
+    trouble and
+    mayhem)
+  --foo=FOO
+    store FOO
+    in the foo
+    list for
+    later
+    fooing
+  -h, --help
+    show this
+    help
+    message and
+    exit
+"""
+
 class TestHelp(BaseTest):
     def setUp(self):
         self.parser = self.make_parser(80)
@@ -1500,6 +1533,8 @@
         # we look at $COLUMNS.
         self.parser = self.make_parser(60)
         self.assertHelpEquals(_expected_help_short_lines)
+        self.parser = self.make_parser(0)
+        self.assertHelpEquals(_expected_very_help_short_lines)
 
     def test_help_unicode(self):
         self.parser = InterceptingOptionParser(usage=SUPPRESS_USAGE)