diff --git a/src/gui_gtk_x11.c b/src/gui_gtk_x11.c
index 541240d..c5b1128 100644
--- a/src/gui_gtk_x11.c
+++ b/src/gui_gtk_x11.c
@@ -813,10 +813,15 @@
     if (blink_state == BLINK_NONE)
 	gui_mch_start_blink();
 
-    /* make sure keyboard input goes to the draw area (if this is focus for a window) */
+    /* make sure keyboard input goes to the draw area (if this is focus for a
+     * window) */
     if (widget != gui.drawarea)
 	gtk_widget_grab_focus(gui.drawarea);
 
+    /* make sure the input buffer is read */
+    if (gtk_main_level() > 0)
+	gtk_main_quit();
+
     return TRUE;
 }
 
@@ -829,6 +834,10 @@
     if (blink_state != BLINK_NONE)
 	gui_mch_stop_blink();
 
+    /* make sure the input buffer is read */
+    if (gtk_main_level() > 0)
+	gtk_main_quit();
+
     return TRUE;
 }