diff --git a/pinentry/pinentry-curses.c b/pinentry/pinentry-curses.c
--- a/pinentry/pinentry-curses.c
+++ b/pinentry/pinentry-curses.c
@@ -1406,7 +1406,7 @@
       screen = newterm (tty_type, ttyfo, ttyfi);
       if (!screen)
         {
-          pinentry->specific_err = gpg_error (GPG_ERR_WINDOW_TOO_SMALL);
+          pinentry->specific_err = gpg_error (GPG_ERR_MISSING_ENVVAR);
           pinentry->specific_err_loc = "curses_init";
           fclose (ttyfo);
           fclose (ttyfi);