diff --git a/themes/powerline/powerline.base.sh b/themes/powerline/powerline.base.sh
index 91dc369..6fe3a65 100644
--- a/themes/powerline/powerline.base.sh
+++ b/themes/powerline/powerline.base.sh
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ function __powerline_user_info_prompt {
   local color=${USER_INFO_THEME_PROMPT_COLOR}
 
   if [[ "${THEME_CHECK_SUDO}" = true ]]; then
-    if sudo -n uptime 2>&1 | grep -q "load"; then
+    # check whether sudo is active for no-password executions
+    if sudo -n cat <<< c3bcc5c 2>&1 | grep -q c3bcc5c; then
       color=${USER_INFO_THEME_PROMPT_COLOR_SUDO}
     fi
   fi