diff --git a/eval.c b/eval.c
index 7e5c685..01e2c44 100644
--- a/eval.c
+++ b/eval.c
@@ -1172,7 +1172,7 @@ char *getval(char *token)
 		strcpy(token, getval(&token[1]));
 		distmp = discmd;	/* echo it always! */
 		discmd = TRUE;
-		status = getstring(token, buf, NSTRING, ctoec('\n'));
+		status = getstring( token, buf, NSTRING, nlc) ;
 		discmd = distmp;
 		if (status == ABORT)
 			return errorm;
diff --git a/exec.c b/exec.c
index 09a1cd1..dec8f3b 100644
--- a/exec.c
+++ b/exec.c
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ int macarg( char *tok, int toksz)
 
     savcle = clexec;    /* save execution mode */
     clexec = TRUE;      /* get the argument */
-    status = nextarg("", tok, toksz, ctoec('\n'));
+    status = mlreply( "", tok, toksz) ;
     clexec = savcle;    /* restore execution mode */
     return status;
 }
diff --git a/input.c b/input.c
index d8637d3..5e4e960 100644
--- a/input.c
+++ b/input.c
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ int ctlxc = CONTROL | 'X' ;		/* current control X prefix char */
 int reptc = CONTROL | 'U' ;		/* current universal repeat char */
 int abortc = CONTROL | 'G' ;		/* current abort command char	 */
 
+const int nlc = CONTROL | 'J' ;		/* end of input char */
+
 static const int quotec = 0x11 ;	/* quote char during mlreply()	 */
 
 static void outstring( char *s) ;
@@ -91,14 +93,12 @@ int mlyesno( const char *prompt)
  * return. Handle erase, kill, and abort keys.
  */
 
-int mlreply( const char *prompt, char *buf, int nbuf)
-{
-    return nextarg(prompt, buf, nbuf, ctoec('\n'));
+int mlreply( const char *prompt, char *buf, int nbuf) {
+    return nextarg( prompt, buf, nbuf, nlc) ;
 }
 
-int mlreplyt(const char *prompt, char *buf, int nbuf, int eolchar)
-{
-    return nextarg(prompt, buf, nbuf, eolchar);
+int mlreplyt( const char *prompt, char *buf, int nbuf) {
+    return nextarg( prompt, buf, nbuf, metac) ;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -115,18 +115,6 @@ int ectoc(int c)
     return c;
 }
 
-/*
- * ctoec:
- *  character to extended character
- *  pull out the CONTROL and SPEC prefixes (if possible)
- */
-int ctoec(int c)
-{
-    if (c >= 0x00 && c <= 0x1F)
-        c = CONTROL | (c + '@');
-    return c;
-}
-
 /*
  * get a command name from the command line. Command completion means
  * that pressing a <SPACE> will attempt to complete an unfinished command
diff --git a/input.h b/input.h
index 03aa106..fffd38c 100644
--- a/input.h
+++ b/input.h
@@ -14,17 +14,18 @@ extern int kbdm[] ;		/* Holds kayboard macro data    */
 extern int *kbdptr ;		/* current position in keyboard buf */
 extern int *kbdend ;		/* ptr to end of the keyboard	*/
 extern int disinp ;		/* display input characters     */
+
 extern int metac;		/* current meta character */
 extern int ctlxc;		/* current control X prefix char */
 extern int reptc;		/* current universal repeat char */
 extern int abortc;		/* current abort command char   */
+extern const int nlc ;	/* end of input char */
 
 
 int mlyesno( const char *prompt) ;
 int mlreply( const char *prompt, char *buf, int nbuf) ;
-int mlreplyt( const char *prompt, char *buf, int nbuf, int eolchar) ;
+int mlreplyt( const char *prompt, char *buf, int nbuf) ;
 int ectoc( int c) ;
-int ctoec( int c) ;
 fn_t getname( void) ;
 int tgetc( void) ;
 int get1key( void) ;
diff --git a/random.c b/random.c
index 2ecc43a..b791898 100644
--- a/random.c
+++ b/random.c
@@ -1196,7 +1196,7 @@ int istring(int f, int n)
 
 	/* ask for string to insert */
 	status =
-	    mlreplyt("String to insert<META>: ", tstring, sizeof tstring - 1, metac) ;
+	    mlreplyt( "String to insert<META>: ", tstring, sizeof tstring - 1) ;
 	if (status != TRUE)
 		return status;
 
@@ -1224,7 +1224,7 @@ int ovstring(int f, int n)
 
 	/* ask for string to insert */
 	status =
-	    mlreplyt( "String to overwrite<META>: ", tstring, NSTRING, metac) ;
+	    mlreplyt( "String to overwrite<META>: ", tstring, NSTRING) ;
 	if (status != TRUE)
 		return status;
 
diff --git a/search.c b/search.c
index ee9091f..be4b871 100644
--- a/search.c
+++ b/search.c
@@ -713,7 +713,8 @@ static int readpattern(char *prompt, char *apat, int srch)
 	 * Then, if it's the search string, make a reversed pattern.
 	 * *Then*, make the meta-pattern, if we are defined that way.
 	 */
-	if ((status = mlreplyt(tpat, tpat, NPAT, metac)) == TRUE) {
+	status = mlreplyt( tpat, tpat, NPAT) ;
+	if( status == TRUE) {
 		strcpy(apat, tpat);
 		if (srch) {	/* If we are doing the search string. */
 			/* Reverse string copy, and remember