diff --git a/tecs/sys_select.c b/tecs/sys_select.c
index 0d60d92..dae71b9 100644
--- a/tecs/sys_select.c
+++ b/tecs/sys_select.c
@@ -34,6 +34,18 @@ void sys_keys_off(void) {
   }
 }
 
+static int getChar(void) {
+  unsigned char c;
+  int rt;
+  
+  rt = read(STDIN_FILENO, &c, 1);
+  if (rt<=0) {
+    return EOF;
+  } else {
+    return c;
+  }
+}
+
 int sys_select_or_key(fd_set *mask, int msecTmo, int *key) {
   int fd, iret, fd1, chr;
   struct timeval tmo, tmo0={0,0};
@@ -47,8 +59,9 @@ int sys_select_or_key(fd_set *mask, int msecTmo, int *key) {
     perror("error in select");
   }
   fd1=STDIN_FILENO;
-  chr=fgetc(stdin);
-  if (chr==EOF && iret==0) {
+  /* chr=fgetc(stdin); */
+  chr = getChar();
+  if (chr == EOF && iret==0) { /*  */
     rmask=*mask;
     FD_SET(STDIN_FILENO, &rmask);
     if (msecTmo>=0) {
@@ -68,7 +81,8 @@ int sys_select_or_key(fd_set *mask, int msecTmo, int *key) {
       perror("error in select");
     }
     if (FD_ISSET(STDIN_FILENO, &rmask)) {
-      chr=fgetc(stdin);
+      chr = getChar();
+      /* chr=fgetc(stdin); */
     }
     FD_CLR(STDIN_FILENO, &rmask);
   }