diff --git a/src/fe-text/screen.c b/src/fe-text/screen.c
index 1dc33b64..e4458c6c 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/screen.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/screen.c
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ static int init_curses(void)
 #ifdef HAVE_CURSES_IDCOK
 	idcok(stdscr, 1);
 #endif
-	intrflush(stdscr, FALSE); halfdelay(1); keypad(stdscr, 1);
+	intrflush(stdscr, FALSE); nodelay(stdscr, TRUE); keypad(stdscr, 1);
 
 	if (has_colors())
 		start_color();