diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index d1b5cb1..678365f 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -1185,10 +1185,12 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         curses.wrapper(run_app, buffers, **d)
         err = 0
     except:
+        # restore terminal state before printing an error
+        termios.tcsetattr(sys.stdin, termios.TCSANOW, attr)
         traceback.print_exc()
         err = 1
 
-    # restore terminal state
+    # restore terminal state before exiting
     termios.tcsetattr(sys.stdin, termios.TCSANOW, attr)
     ispell.free()
     sys.exit(err)