diff --git a/pure.zsh b/pure.zsh
index f25ed40..8c92f5c 100644
--- a/pure.zsh
+++ b/pure.zsh
@@ -32,8 +32,11 @@
 	# enable prompt substitution
 	setopt PROMPT_SUBST
 
-	# only show username if not default
-	[ $USER != "$PURE_DEFAULT_USERNAME" ] && local username='%n@%m '
+	# only show username if not default.
+	# if SSH_CLIENT or SSH_TTY is defined, it's an ssh session.
+	if [[ "$SSH_CLIENT" ]] || [[ "$SSH_TTY" ]]; then
+	  local username='%n@%m '
+	fi
 
 	# fastest possible way to check if repo is dirty
 	pure_git_dirty() {