diff --git a/plugins/available/xterm.plugin.bash b/plugins/available/xterm.plugin.bash
index 4f4fd50d..b8747a25 100644
--- a/plugins/available/xterm.plugin.bash
+++ b/plugins/available/xterm.plugin.bash
@@ -3,29 +3,37 @@ cite about-plugin
 about-plugin 'automatically set your xterm title with host and location info'
 
 _short-dirname() {
-	local dir_name=$(dirs +0)
-	[ "$SHORT_TERM_LINE" = true ] && [ "${#dir_name}" -gt 8 ] && echo "${dir_name##*/}" || echo "${dir_name}"
+	local dir_name="${PWD/~/\~}"
+	if [[ "${SHORT_TERM_LINE:-}" == true && "${#dir_name}" -gt 8 ]]; then
+		echo "${dir_name##*/}"
+	else
+		echo "${dir_name}"
+	fi
 }
 
 _short-command() {
 	local input_command="$*"
-	[ "$SHORT_TERM_LINE" = true ] && [ "${#input_command}" -gt 8 ] && echo "${input_command%% *}" || echo "${input_command}"
+	if [[ "${SHORT_TERM_LINE:-}" == true && "${#input_command}" -gt 8 ]]; then
+		echo "${input_command%% *}"
+	else
+		echo "${input_command}"
+	fi
 }
 
 set_xterm_title() {
-	local title="$1"
-	echo -ne "\033]0;$title\007"
+	local title="${1:-}"
+	echo -ne "\033]0;${title}\007"
 }
 
 precmd_xterm_title() {
-	set_xterm_title "${SHORT_USER:-${USER}}@${SHORT_HOSTNAME:-${HOSTNAME}} $(_short-dirname) $PROMPT_CHAR"
+	set_xterm_title "${SHORT_USER:-${USER}}@${SHORT_HOSTNAME:-${HOSTNAME}} $(_short-dirname) ${PROMPT_CHAR:-\$}"
 }
 
 preexec_xterm_title() {
-	set_xterm_title "$(_short-command "${1}") {$(_short-dirname)} (${SHORT_USER:-${USER}}@${SHORT_HOSTNAME:-${HOSTNAME}})"
+	set_xterm_title "$(_short-command "${1:-}") {$(_short-dirname)} (${SHORT_USER:-${USER}}@${SHORT_HOSTNAME:-${HOSTNAME}})"
 }
 
-case "$TERM" in
+case "${TERM:-dumb}" in
 	xterm* | rxvt*)
 		precmd_functions+=(precmd_xterm_title)
 		preexec_functions+=(preexec_xterm_title)