diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml
index 261652a45f..991573121b 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml
@@ -3801,8 +3801,9 @@ $endif
       If the query results do not fit on the screen, they are piped
       through this command.  Typical values are
       <literal>more</literal> or <literal>less</literal>.  The default
-      is platform-dependent.  The use of the pager can be disabled by
-      using the <command>\pset</command> command.
+      is platform-dependent.  Use of the pager can be disabled by setting
+      <envar>PAGER</envar> to empty, or by using pager-related options of
+      the <command>\pset</command> command.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
diff --git a/src/fe_utils/print.c b/src/fe_utils/print.c
index 1ec74f1790..5c5d285be5 100644
--- a/src/fe_utils/print.c
+++ b/src/fe_utils/print.c
@@ -2874,6 +2874,12 @@ PageOutput(int lines, const printTableOpt *topt)
 			pagerprog = getenv("PAGER");
 			if (!pagerprog)
 				pagerprog = DEFAULT_PAGER;
+			else
+			{
+				/* if PAGER is empty or all-white-space, don't use pager */
+				if (strspn(pagerprog, " \t\r\n") == strlen(pagerprog))
+					return stdout;
+			}
 			disable_sigpipe_trap();
 			pagerpipe = popen(pagerprog, "w");
 			if (pagerpipe)
diff --git a/src/interfaces/libpq/fe-print.c b/src/interfaces/libpq/fe-print.c
index c33dc42a83..e596a51408 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/libpq/fe-print.c
+++ b/src/interfaces/libpq/fe-print.c
@@ -166,8 +166,9 @@ PQprint(FILE *fout, const PGresult *res, const PQprintOpt *po)
 			screen_size.ws_col = 80;
 #endif
 			pagerenv = getenv("PAGER");
+			/* if PAGER is unset, empty or all-white-space, don't use pager */
 			if (pagerenv != NULL &&
-				pagerenv[0] != '\0' &&
+				strspn(pagerenv, " \t\r\n") != strlen(pagerenv) &&
 				!po->html3 &&
 				((po->expanded &&
 				  nTups * (nFields + 1) >= screen_size.ws_row) ||