diff --git a/client/util.c b/client/util.c
index de6443cfc..5b461649f 100644
--- a/client/util.c
+++ b/client/util.c
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ int ukbhit(void)
   int error;
   static struct termios Otty, Ntty;
 
-  tcgetattr( 0, &Otty);
+  if ( tcgetattr( 0, &Otty) == -1) return false;
   Ntty = Otty;
 
   Ntty.c_iflag          = 0;       /* input mode                */