diff --git a/bbot/cli.py b/bbot/cli.py
index 9a8ab51dd..c64d242ff 100755
--- a/bbot/cli.py
+++ b/bbot/cli.py
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@
 import asyncio
 import logging
 import traceback
-from aioconsole import ainput
 from omegaconf import OmegaConf
 from contextlib import suppress
+from aioconsole.stream import NonFileStreamReader
 
 # fix tee buffering
 sys.stdout.reconfigure(line_buffering=True)
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 from bbot import __version__
 from bbot.modules import module_loader
 from bbot.core.configurator.args import parser
+from bbot.core.helpers.misc import smart_decode
 from bbot.core.helpers.logger import log_to_stderr
 from bbot.core.configurator import ensure_config_files, check_cli_args, environ
 
@@ -321,21 +322,28 @@ def handle_keyboard_input(keyboard_input):
                             toggle_log_level(logger=log)
                             scanner.manager.modules_status(_log=True)
 
+                    reader = NonFileStreamReader(sys.stdin)
+
                     async def akeyboard_listen():
-                        allowed_errors = 10
-                        while 1:
-                            keyboard_input = "a"
-                            try:
-                                keyboard_input = await ainput()
-                            except Exception:
-                                allowed_errors -= 1
-                            handle_keyboard_input(keyboard_input)
-                            if allowed_errors <= 0:
-                                break
+                        try:
+                            allowed_errors = 10
+                            while 1:
+                                keyboard_input = None
+                                try:
+                                    keyboard_input = smart_decode((await reader.readline()).strip())
+                                    allowed_errors = 0
+                                except Exception:
+                                    allowed_errors -= 1
+                                if keyboard_input is not None:
+                                    handle_keyboard_input(keyboard_input)
+                                    if allowed_errors <= 0:
+                                        break
+                        except Exception as e:
+                            log_to_stderr(f"Error in keyboard listen task: {e}", level="ERROR")
+                            log_to_stderr(traceback.format_exc(), level="TRACE")
 
                     try:
                         keyboard_listen_task = asyncio.create_task(akeyboard_listen())
-
                         await scanner.async_start_without_generator()
                     finally:
                         keyboard_listen_task.cancel()