diff --git a/gitstatus.sh b/gitstatus.sh
index 03e1bc1..57876f7 100755
--- a/gitstatus.sh
+++ b/gitstatus.sh
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ if [[ "$__GIT_PROMPT_IGNORE_STASH" = "1" ]]; then
 else
   stash_file="`git rev-parse --git-dir`/logs/refs/stash"
   if [[ -e "${stash_file}" ]]; then
-    num_stashed=`cat "${stash_file} | wc -l`
+    num_stashed=`wc -l "${stash_file}" | cut -d' ' -f1`
   else
     num_stashed=0
   fi