diff --git a/i3pystatus/backlight.py b/i3pystatus/backlight.py
index 89e144fb..862b5303 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/backlight.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/backlight.py
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ class Backlight(File):
     on_downscroll = "darker"
 
     def init(self):
+        self.has_xbacklight = shutil.which("xbacklight") is not None
+
         self.base_path = self.base_path.format(backlight=self.backlight)
         backlight_entries = sorted(glob.glob(self.base_path))
 
@@ -53,7 +55,6 @@ def init(self):
             return
 
         self.base_path = backlight_entries[0]
-        self.has_xbacklight = shutil.which("xbacklight") is not None
 
         # xbacklight expects a percentage as parameter. Calculate the percentage
         # for one step (if smaller xbacklight doesn't increases the brightness)
@@ -75,13 +76,9 @@ def run_no_backlight(self):
             "percentage": -1
         }
 
-        format = self.format_no_backlight
-        if not format:
-            format = self.format
-
         self.data = cdict
         self.output = {
-            "full_text": format.format(**cdict),
+            "full_text": self.format_no_backlight.format(**cdict),
             "color": self.color
         }