diff --git a/lib/iex/lib/iex/helpers.ex b/lib/iex/lib/iex/helpers.ex
index 3e37ed7082..99eccaff6f 100644
--- a/lib/iex/lib/iex/helpers.ex
+++ b/lib/iex/lib/iex/helpers.ex
@@ -1139,9 +1139,15 @@ defmodule IEx.Helpers do
 
   defp print_table(list, printer) do
     # print items in multiple columns (2 columns in the worst case)
-    lengths = Enum.map(list, &String.length(&1))
-    max_length = max_length(lengths)
-    offset = min(max_length, 30) + 4
+    max_length =
+      Enum.reduce_while(list, 0, fn item, acc ->
+        case String.length(item) do
+          len when len >= 30 -> {:halt, 30}
+          len -> {:cont, max(acc, len)}
+        end
+      end)
+
+    offset = max_length + 4
     print_table(list, printer, offset)
   end
 
@@ -1165,10 +1171,6 @@ defmodule IEx.Helpers do
     IO.puts("")
   end
 
-  defp max_length(list) do
-    Enum.reduce(list, 0, &max(&1, &2))
-  end
-
   defp format_item(path, representation) do
     case File.stat(path) do
       {:ok, %File.Stat{type: :device}} ->