diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index 747aad9..07c9112 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ from subprocess import Popen, PIPE, STDOUT
 
 import buffer, buffer.about, buffer.color, buffer.console, buffer.data
 import buffer.fs
-import bufferlist, color, completer, keyinput, method, minibuffer, mode
-import util, window
+import bufferlist, color, completer, ispell, keyinput, method, minibuffer
+import mode, util, window
 from point import Point
 
 class Application(object):
@@ -879,6 +879,7 @@ def run_app(stdscr, buffers, jump_to_line=None, init_mode=None):
     curses.def_shell_mode()
     a = Application(stdscr, buffers, jump_to_line, init_mode)
     a.run()
+    return 0
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     ciphers   = {
@@ -976,12 +977,16 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     keyinput.disable_control_chars()
 
     # ok, now run our app
-    retval = 1
     try:
-        retval = curses.wrapper(run_app, buffers, opts.goto, opts.mode)
+        curses.wrapper(run_app, buffers, opts.goto, opts.mode)
+        err = 0
     except:
         traceback.print_exc()
+        err = 1
 
     # restore terminal state
     termios.tcsetattr(sys.stdin, termios.TCSANOW, attr)
-    sys.exit(retval)
+    ispell.free()
+    if not err:
+        os.system('clear')
+    sys.exit(err)
diff --git a/ispell.py b/ispell.py
index d4d01ce..ce3591b 100644
--- a/ispell.py
+++ b/ispell.py
@@ -7,11 +7,15 @@ _speller   = None
 _can_spell = os.system('which ispell > /dev/null 2>&1') == 0
 
 def can_spell():
-    global _can_spell
     return _can_spell
 def get_speller():
     global _speller
+    if _can_spell and not _speller:
+        _speller = Speller()
     return _speller
+def free():
+    if _speller:
+        _speller.close()
 
 class Speller(object):
     def __init__(self, cmd='ispell'):
@@ -77,9 +81,6 @@ class Speller(object):
         self.pipe.stdin.flush()
         self.flush(word)
 
-if _can_spell:
-    _speller = Speller()
-
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     s = Speller()
     while True: