diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-python-compatibility.yml b/.github/workflows/check-python-compatibility.yml
index fdeb02b..c82fb35 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check-python-compatibility.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-python-compatibility.yml
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@ jobs:
     - name: Setup simple-term-menu on Python 3.5
       run: python3.5 -m pip install .
     - name: Run a simple-term-menu check on Python 3.5
-      run: TERM=dumb python3.5 -m simple_term_menu --version
+      run: python3.5 -m simple_term_menu --version
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 250079f..edb6ee0 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ check-python-compatibility:py35:
   image: sciapp/python-testing:latest-ubuntu-20.04
   script:
   - python3.5 -m pip install .
-  - TERM=dumb python3.5 -m simple_term_menu --version
+  - python3.5 -m simple_term_menu --version
 
 build-linux-executable:
   stage: build
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index d0e0b28..cae622a 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@ def run(self) -> None:
 
 
 def get_version_from_pyfile(version_file: str = "simple_term_menu.py") -> str:
-    if "TERM" not in os.environ:
-        os.environ["TERM"] = ""  # Avoid error messages when simple-term-menu is not installed on a terminal
     file_globals = runpy.run_path(version_file)
     return cast(str, file_globals["__version__"])
 
diff --git a/simple_term_menu.py b/simple_term_menu.py
index 086e153..23d7544 100755
--- a/simple_term_menu.py
+++ b/simple_term_menu.py
@@ -38,20 +38,12 @@
 except ImportError as e:
     raise NotImplementedError('"{}" is currently not supported.'.format(platform.system())) from e
 
-if "TERM" not in os.environ:
-    if "PYCHARM_HOSTED" in os.environ:
-        raise NotImplementedError(
-            "simple-term-menu does not work in the PyCharm output console. Use a terminal instead (Alt + F12) or "
-            'activate "Emulate terminal in output console".'
-        )
-    raise NotImplementedError("simple-term-menu can only be used in a terminal emulator")
-
 
 __author__ = "Ingo Meyer"
 __email__ = "i.meyer@fz-juelich.de"
 __copyright__ = "Copyright © 2021 Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH. All rights reserved."
 __license__ = "MIT"
-__version_info__ = (1, 6, 2)
+__version_info__ = (1, 6, 3)
 __version__ = ".".join(map(str, __version_info__))
 
 
@@ -640,6 +632,15 @@ def __init__(
         status_bar_style: Optional[Iterable[str]] = DEFAULT_STATUS_BAR_STYLE,
         title: Optional[Union[str, Iterable[str]]] = None
     ):
+        def check_for_terminal_environment() -> None:
+            if "TERM" not in os.environ or os.environ["TERM"] == "":
+                if "PYCHARM_HOSTED" in os.environ:
+                    raise NotImplementedError(
+                        "simple-term-menu does not work in the PyCharm output console. Use a terminal instead (Alt + "
+                        'F12) or activate "Emulate terminal in output console".'
+                    )
+                raise NotImplementedError("simple-term-menu can only be used in a terminal emulator")
+
         def extract_shortcuts_menu_entries_and_preview_arguments(
             entries: Iterable[str],
         ) -> Tuple[List[str], List[Optional[str]], List[Optional[str]], List[int]]:
@@ -720,6 +721,7 @@ def setup_title_or_status_bar_lines(
                     lines.append(shortcut_hints_line)
             return tuple(lines)
 
+        check_for_terminal_environment()
         (
             self._menu_entries,
             self._shortcut_keys,