diff --git a/src/watch.rs b/src/watch.rs
index 453d9a4..944d77b 100644
--- a/src/watch.rs
+++ b/src/watch.rs
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ pub fn watch(
                 break;
             }
             WatchEvent::Input(InputEvent::Run) => watch_state.run_current_exercise()?,
-            WatchEvent::Input(InputEvent::Unrecognized(cmd)) => {
-                watch_state.handle_invalid_cmd(&cmd)?;
+            WatchEvent::Input(InputEvent::Unrecognized(input)) => {
+                watch_state.handle_invalid_input(input)?;
             }
             WatchEvent::FileChange { exercise_ind } => {
                 watch_state.run_exercise_with_ind(exercise_ind)?;
diff --git a/src/watch/state.rs b/src/watch/state.rs
index 2cf7521..f3ffac8 100644
--- a/src/watch/state.rs
+++ b/src/watch/state.rs
@@ -166,14 +166,11 @@ When you are done experimenting, enter `n` (or `next`) to move on to the next ex
         self.render()
     }
 
-    pub fn handle_invalid_cmd(&mut self, cmd: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
-        self.writer.write_all(b"Invalid command: ")?;
-        self.writer.write_all(cmd.as_bytes())?;
-        if cmd.len() > 1 {
-            self.writer
-                .write_all(b" (confusing input can occur after resizing the terminal)")?;
-        }
-        self.writer.write_all(b"\n")?;
+    pub fn handle_invalid_input(&mut self, input: char) -> io::Result<()> {
+        writeln!(
+            self.writer,
+            "Invalid input: {input} (confusing input can occur after resizing the terminal)",
+        )?;
         self.show_prompt()
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/watch/terminal_event.rs b/src/watch/terminal_event.rs
index 6d790b7..846bec1 100644
--- a/src/watch/terminal_event.rs
+++ b/src/watch/terminal_event.rs
@@ -9,12 +9,10 @@ pub enum InputEvent {
     Hint,
     List,
     Quit,
-    Unrecognized(String),
+    Unrecognized(char),
 }
 
 pub fn terminal_event_handler(tx: Sender<WatchEvent>, manual_run: bool) {
-    let mut input = String::with_capacity(8);
-
     let last_input_event = loop {
         let terminal_event = match event::read() {
             Ok(v) => v,
@@ -28,36 +26,28 @@ pub fn terminal_event_handler(tx: Sender<WatchEvent>, manual_run: bool) {
 
         match terminal_event {
             Event::Key(key) => {
+                match key.kind {
+                    KeyEventKind::Release | KeyEventKind::Repeat => continue,
+                    KeyEventKind::Press => (),
+                }
+
                 if key.modifiers != KeyModifiers::NONE {
                     continue;
                 }
 
-                match key.kind {
-                    KeyEventKind::Release => continue,
-                    KeyEventKind::Press | KeyEventKind::Repeat => (),
-                }
+                if let KeyCode::Char(c) = key.code {
+                    let input_event = match c {
+                        'n' => InputEvent::Next,
+                        'h' => InputEvent::Hint,
+                        'l' => break InputEvent::List,
+                        'q' => break InputEvent::Quit,
+                        'r' if manual_run => InputEvent::Run,
+                        _ => InputEvent::Unrecognized(c),
+                    };
 
-                match key.code {
-                    KeyCode::Enter => {
-                        let input_event = match input.trim() {
-                            "n" | "next" => InputEvent::Next,
-                            "h" | "hint" => InputEvent::Hint,
-                            "l" | "list" => break InputEvent::List,
-                            "q" | "quit" => break InputEvent::Quit,
-                            "r" | "run" if manual_run => InputEvent::Run,
-                            _ => InputEvent::Unrecognized(input.clone()),
-                        };
-
-                        if tx.send(WatchEvent::Input(input_event)).is_err() {
-                            return;
-                        }
-
-                        input.clear();
+                    if tx.send(WatchEvent::Input(input_event)).is_err() {
+                        return;
                     }
-                    KeyCode::Char(c) => {
-                        input.push(c);
-                    }
-                    _ => (),
                 }
             }
             Event::Resize(_, _) => {