diff --git a/module/buffer.lua b/module/buffer.lua
index 7536f35..7ecbb72 100644
--- a/module/buffer.lua
+++ b/module/buffer.lua
@@ -307,6 +307,8 @@ function buffer:read(...)
      if #buffer > 0 and pos <= #buffer then
       buffer = buffer:sub(1, (#buffer - pos)) .. buffer:sub((#buffer - pos) + 2)
      end
+    elseif char == "\3" then -- ^C, error
+     error("terminated")
     elseif char == "\1" then -- ^A, go to start of line
      pos = buffer:len()+1
     elseif char == "\5" then -- ^E, go to end of line