diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index ebc959a..305041e 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -84,11 +84,13 @@ device_write(char *s)
 static void
 device_read(void)
 {
-	char c;
+	char c, *origin = dst_;
 	while(fread(&c, 1, 1, stdin) && c >= ' ')
 		*dst_++ = c;
 	if(feof(stdin))
 		*dst_++ = 'E', *dst_++ = 'O', *dst_++ = 'F';
+	if(dst_ - origin == 0)
+		dst_--;
 }
 
 static void