diff --git a/holoviews/core/options.py b/holoviews/core/options.py
index 1bb4a7a127..35f7b4e79a 100644
--- a/holoviews/core/options.py
+++ b/holoviews/core/options.py
@@ -1253,7 +1253,7 @@ def info(cls, obj, ansi=True, backend='matplotlib', visualization=True,
         parameterized_class = (isinstance(obj,type)
                                and  issubclass(obj,param.Parameterized))
         info = None
-        if parameterized_object or parameterized_class:
+        if InfoPrinter.store and (parameterized_object or parameterized_class):
             info = InfoPrinter.info(obj, ansi=ansi, backend=backend,
                                     visualization=visualization,
                                     pattern=pattern, elements=elements)
diff --git a/holoviews/tests/util/test_help.py b/holoviews/tests/util/test_help.py
index 9b19751686..4b7945b8a2 100644
--- a/holoviews/tests/util/test_help.py
+++ b/holoviews/tests/util/test_help.py
@@ -9,3 +9,15 @@ def test_help_pattern(capsys):
     hv.help(hv.Curve, pattern='border')
     captured = capsys.readouterr()
     assert '\x1b[43;1;30mborder\x1b[0m' in captured.out
+
+
+@pytest.mark.usefixtures("bokeh_backend")
+def test_help_pattern_no_ipython(capsys):
+    info_store = hv.core.pprint.InfoPrinter.store
+    try:
+        hv.core.pprint.InfoPrinter.store = None
+        hv.help(hv.Curve)
+        captured = capsys.readouterr()
+        assert captured.out.startswith('Help on class Curve')
+    finally:
+        hv.core.pprint.InfoPrinter.store = info_store