diff --git a/git-tools/hooks/commit-msg b/git-tools/hooks/commit-msg
index d6ad57a38a..91951b05c2 100755
--- a/git-tools/hooks/commit-msg
+++ b/git-tools/hooks/commit-msg
@@ -55,11 +55,12 @@ quit()
 	fi
 }
 
-if [ "$(wc --max-line-length "$1" | cut -f1 -d" ")" -gt 80 ]
+msg=$(grep -nE '.{81,}' "$1");
+
+if [ $? -eq 0 ]
 then
 	echo "The following lines are greater than 80 characters long:\n" >&2;
-
-	grep -nE '.{81,}' "$1" >&2;
+	echo $msg >&2;
 
 	quit $ERR_LENGTH;
 fi