diff --git a/src/lib/direct.cpp b/src/lib/direct.cpp
index 956519397..d2a5355cc 100644
--- a/src/lib/direct.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/direct.cpp
@@ -597,6 +597,9 @@ static int
 ncdirect_stop_minimal(void* vnc){
   ncdirect* nc = static_cast<ncdirect*>(vnc);
   int ret = drop_signals(nc);
+  if(!(nc->flags & NCDIRECT_OPTION_NO_READLINE)){
+    rl_deprep_terminal();
+  }
   if(nc->tcache.op && term_emit("op", nc->tcache.op, nc->ttyfp, true)){
     ret = -1;
   }
@@ -615,9 +618,6 @@ ncdirect_stop_minimal(void* vnc){
     }
     ret |= close(nc->ctermfd);
   }
-  if(!(nc->flags & NCDIRECT_OPTION_NO_READLINE)){
-    rl_deprep_terminal();
-  }
   return ret;
 }