diff --git a/ask.c b/ask.c
index 7b47178..77b7f39 100644
--- a/ask.c
+++ b/ask.c
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ static char *get_input(FILE *in, FILE *out, const char *prompt, const char *init
             case '\r':
                 goto finished;
             case KEY_CTRL_C: case KEY_ESC:
+              cleanup:
                 free(buf);
                 buf = NULL;
                 picked = NULL;
@@ -283,7 +284,10 @@ static char *get_input(FILE *in, FILE *out, const char *prompt, const char *init
                     buf[--len] = 0;
                 }
                 break;
-            case KEY_DELETE: case KEY_CTRL_D:
+            case KEY_CTRL_D:
+                if (len == 0) goto cleanup;
+                // fallthrough
+            case KEY_DELETE:
                 if (b < len) {
                     memmove(buf+b, buf+b+1, (size_t)(len-b));
                     buf[--len] = 0;