diff --git a/src/mphalport.c b/src/mphalport.c
index 266a8e5c..1d2771f2 100644
--- a/src/mphalport.c
+++ b/src/mphalport.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ int mp_hal_stdin_rx_chr(void) {
         if (c != -1) {
             return c;
         }
+        mp_handle_pending(true);
         microbit_hal_idle();
     }
 }