diff --git a/bb.c b/bb.c
index 40febba..7e4c6cb 100644
--- a/bb.c
+++ b/bb.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #define writez(fd, str) write(fd, str, strlen(str))
 #define IS_SELECTED(p) ((p)->atme)
 
+#define KEY_DELAY -1
 
 static struct termios orig_termios;
 static int termfd;
@@ -544,7 +545,7 @@ static void explore(char *path, int print_dir, int print_selection, char sep)
         render(&state);
       skip_redraw:
         scrolloff = MIN(SCROLLOFF, (height-4)/2);
-        int key = term_getkey(termfd, &mouse_x, &mouse_y);
+        int key = term_getkey(termfd, &mouse_x, &mouse_y, KEY_DELAY);
         switch (key) {
             case KEY_MOUSE_LEFT: {
                 struct timespec clicktime;
@@ -754,7 +755,7 @@ static void explore(char *path, int print_dir, int print_selection, char sep)
                 term_move(0, height-1);
                 writez(termfd, "\e[K\e[1mSort by (a)lphabetic (s)ize (t)ime (p)ermissions:\e[0m \e[?25h");
               try_sort_again:
-                switch (term_getkey(termfd, &mouse_x, &mouse_y)) {
+                switch (term_getkey(termfd, &mouse_x, &mouse_y, -1)) {
                     case 'a': case 'A':
                       sort_alpha:
                         if (state.sortmethod == SORT_ALPHA)
diff --git a/keys.h b/keys.h
index fc1e8b2..702d367 100644
--- a/keys.h
+++ b/keys.h
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
  * Definitions of some key character constants
  */
 
-#ifndef KEYS_DEFINED
-#define KEYS_DEFINED
+#ifndef _KEYS_DEFINED
+#define _KEYS_DEFINED
+
+#include <poll.h>
 
 #define KEY_F1               (0xFFFF-0)
 #define KEY_F2               (0xFFFF-1)
@@ -82,22 +84,27 @@
 #define KEY_CTRL_8           0x7F /* clash with 'BACKSPACE2' */
 
 
-static inline int nextchar(int fd)
+#define ESC_DELAY 10
+
+static inline int nextchar(int fd, int timeout)
 {
     char c;
-    return read(fd, &c, 1) == 1 ? c : -1;
+    struct pollfd pfd = {fd, POLLIN, 0};
+    if (poll(&pfd, 1, timeout) > 0)
+        return read(fd, &c, 1) == 1 ? c : -1;
+    return -1;
 }
 
-int term_getkey(int fd, int *mouse_x, int *mouse_y)
+int term_getkey(int fd, int *mouse_x, int *mouse_y, int timeout)
 {
-    int c = nextchar(fd);
+    int c = nextchar(fd, timeout);
     if (c == '\x1b')
         goto escape;
 
     return c;
 
   escape:
-    c = nextchar(fd);
+    c = nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY);
     // Actual escape key:
     if (c == -1)
         return KEY_ESC;
@@ -110,7 +117,7 @@ int term_getkey(int fd, int *mouse_x, int *mouse_y)
     }
 
   CSI:
-    c = nextchar(fd);
+    c = nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY);
     if (c == -1)
         return -1;
 
@@ -122,37 +129,37 @@ int term_getkey(int fd, int *mouse_x, int *mouse_y)
         case 'F': return KEY_END;
         case 'H': return KEY_HOME;
         case '1':
-            switch (nextchar(fd)) {
+            switch (nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY)) {
                 case '5':
-                    return nextchar(fd) == '~' ? KEY_F5 : -1;
+                    return nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY) == '~' ? KEY_F5 : -1;
                 case '7':
-                    return nextchar(fd) == '~' ? KEY_F6 : -1;
+                    return nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY) == '~' ? KEY_F6 : -1;
                 case '8':
-                    return nextchar(fd) == '~' ? KEY_F7 : -1;
+                    return nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY) == '~' ? KEY_F7 : -1;
                 case '9':
-                    return nextchar(fd) == '~' ? KEY_F8 : -1;
+                    return nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY) == '~' ? KEY_F8 : -1;
                 default: return -1;
             }
             break;
         case '2':
-            switch (nextchar(fd)) {
+            switch (nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY)) {
                 case '0':
-                    return nextchar(fd) == '~' ? KEY_F9 : -1;
+                    return nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY) == '~' ? KEY_F9 : -1;
                 case '1':
-                    return nextchar(fd) == '~' ? KEY_F10 : -1;
+                    return nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY) == '~' ? KEY_F10 : -1;
                 case '3':
-                    return nextchar(fd) == '~' ? KEY_F11 : -1;
+                    return nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY) == '~' ? KEY_F11 : -1;
                 case '4':
-                    return nextchar(fd) == '~' ? KEY_F12 : -1;
+                    return nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY) == '~' ? KEY_F12 : -1;
                 default: return -1;
             }
             break;
         case '3':
-            return nextchar(fd) == '~' ? KEY_DELETE : -1;
+            return nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY) == '~' ? KEY_DELETE : -1;
         case '5':
-            return nextchar(fd) == '~' ? KEY_PGUP : -1;
+            return nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY) == '~' ? KEY_PGUP : -1;
         case '6':
-            return nextchar(fd) == '~' ? KEY_PGDN : -1;
+            return nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY) == '~' ? KEY_PGDN : -1;
         case '<': { // Mouse clicks
             int buttons = 0, x = 0, y = 0;
             char buf;
@@ -187,7 +194,7 @@ int term_getkey(int fd, int *mouse_x, int *mouse_y)
     return -1;
 
   SS3:
-    switch (nextchar(fd)) {
+    switch (nextchar(fd, ESC_DELAY)) {
         case 'P': return KEY_F1;
         case 'Q': return KEY_F2;
         case 'R': return KEY_F3;