diff --git a/stage23/lib/readline.c b/stage23/lib/readline.c
index 7f0d578b..201780ff 100644
--- a/stage23/lib/readline.c
+++ b/stage23/lib/readline.c
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ int getchar_internal(uint8_t scancode, uint8_t ascii) {
             return GETCHAR_PGUP;
         case 0x51:
             return GETCHAR_PGDOWN;
+        case 0x01:
+            return GETCHAR_ESCAPE;
 #elif defined (uefi)
         case SCAN_F10:
             return GETCHAR_F10;
@@ -55,7 +57,7 @@ int getchar_internal(uint8_t scancode, uint8_t ascii) {
         case SCAN_PAGE_DOWN:
             return GETCHAR_PGDOWN;
         case SCAN_ESC:
-            return '\e';
+            return GETCHAR_ESCAPE;
 #endif
     }
     switch (ascii) {
@@ -65,8 +67,9 @@ int getchar_internal(uint8_t scancode, uint8_t ascii) {
             return '\b';
     }
     // Guard against non-printable values
-    if (ascii < 0x20 || ascii > 0x7e)
+    if (ascii < 0x20 || ascii > 0x7e) {
         return -1;
+    }
     return ascii;
 }
 
diff --git a/stage23/lib/readline.h b/stage23/lib/readline.h
index 05e3425b..8ce83c07 100644
--- a/stage23/lib/readline.h
+++ b/stage23/lib/readline.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #define GETCHAR_PGUP         (-17)
 #define GETCHAR_PGDOWN       (-18)
 #define GETCHAR_F10          (-19)
+#define GETCHAR_ESCAPE       (-20)
 
 int getchar(void);
 void readline(const char *orig_str, char *buf, size_t limit);
diff --git a/stage23/menu.c b/stage23/menu.c
index f6506479..f30fc181 100644
--- a/stage23/menu.c
+++ b/stage23/menu.c
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ refresh:
         case GETCHAR_F10:
             disable_cursor();
             return buffer;
-        case '\e':
+        case GETCHAR_ESCAPE:
             disable_cursor();
             return NULL;
         default: