diff --git a/source/dub/commandline.d b/source/dub/commandline.d
index 6f6958b..e3d54b5 100644
--- a/source/dub/commandline.d
+++ b/source/dub/commandline.d
@@ -534,12 +534,20 @@
 	// execute the command
 	try return cmd.execute(dub, remaining_args, command_args.appArgs);
 	catch (UsageException e) {
+		// usage exceptions get thrown before any logging, so we are
+		// making the errors more narrow to better fit on small screens.
+		tagWidth.push(5);
 		logError("%s", e.msg);
 		logDebug("Full exception: %s", e.toString().sanitize);
-		logInfo(`Run "dub %s -h" for more information about the "%s" command.`, cmd.name, cmd.name);
+		logInfo(`Run "%s" for more information about the "%s" command.`,
+			text("dub ", cmd.name, " -h").color(Mode.bold), cmd.name.color(Mode.bold));
 		return 1;
 	}
 	catch (Exception e) {
+		// most exceptions get thrown before logging, so same thing here as
+		// above. However this might be subject to change if it results in
+		// weird behavior anywhere.
+		tagWidth.push(5);
 		logError("%s", e.msg);
 		logDebug("Full exception: %s", e.toString().sanitize);
 		return 2;
diff --git a/source/dub/dub.d b/source/dub/dub.d
index c98d631..2057b3e 100644
--- a/source/dub/dub.d
+++ b/source/dub/dub.d
@@ -1177,7 +1177,9 @@
 		auto srcfile = m_project.rootPackage.recipePath;
 		auto srcext = srcfile.head.name.extension;
 		if (srcext == "."~destination_file_ext) {
-			logInfo("Package format is already %s.", destination_file_ext);
+			// no logging before this point
+			tagWidth.push(5);
+			logError("Package format is already %s.", destination_file_ext);
 			return;
 		}
 
diff --git a/source/dub/internal/logging.d b/source/dub/internal/logging.d
index 3b45cf7..3a01c45 100644
--- a/source/dub/internal/logging.d
+++ b/source/dub/internal/logging.d
@@ -76,8 +76,38 @@
 */
 public alias Mode = mode;
 
-/// The tag width in chars, defined as a constant here
-private const int TAG_WIDTH = 12;
+/// Defines the current width of logging tags for justifying in chars.
+/// Can be manipulated through push and pop.
+struct TagWidth {
+	import core.atomic;
+
+	private shared int value = 12;
+	private shared int index;
+	private shared int[16] stack;
+
+	/// Gets the tag width in chars
+	public int get() {
+		return value;
+	}
+
+	/// Changes the tag width for all following logging calls, until $(LREF pop) is called.
+	public void push(int width) {
+		int currentIndex = index;
+		index.atomicOp!"+="(1);
+		stack[currentIndex] = value;
+		assert(index < stack.length, "too many TagWidth.push without pop");
+		value = width;
+	}
+
+	/// Reverts the last $(LREF push) call.
+	public void pop() {
+		assert(index > 0);
+		value = stack[index.atomicOp!"-="(1)];
+	}
+}
+
+/// The global tag width instance used for logging.
+public __gshared TagWidth tagWidth;
 
 /// Possible log levels supported
 enum LogLevel {
@@ -201,7 +231,7 @@
 /**
 	Shorthand function to log a message with info level, this version prints an
 	empty tag automatically (which is different from not having a tag - in this
-	case there will be an identation of TAG_WIDTH chars on the left anyway).
+	case there will be an identation of tagWidth chars on the left anyway).
 
 	Params:
 		level = The log level for the logged message
@@ -320,7 +350,7 @@
 		string result = format(fmt, args);
 
 		if (hasTag)
-			result = tag.rightJustify(TAG_WIDTH, ' ').color(tagColor, boldTag ? Mode.bold : Mode.init) ~ " " ~ result;
+			result = tag.rightJustify(tagWidth.get, ' ').color(tagColor, boldTag ? Mode.bold : Mode.init) ~ " " ~ result;
 
 		import dub.internal.colorize : cwrite;