diff --git a/src/cc/rogue/io.c b/src/cc/rogue/io.c
index 6791c26a4..fbcddf5fa 100644
--- a/src/cc/rogue/io.c
+++ b/src/cc/rogue/io.c
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ readchar(struct rogue_state *rs)
     char ch = -1;
     if ( rs != 0 && rs->guiflag == 0 )
     {
+        static uint32_t counter;
         if ( rs->ind < rs->numkeys )
         {
             //if ( rs->ind == rs->numkeys-1 )
@@ -162,13 +163,15 @@ readchar(struct rogue_state *rs)
             //fprintf(stderr,"(%c) ",rs->keystrokes[rs->ind]);
             return(rs->keystrokes[rs->ind++]);
         }
-        if ( rs->replaydone != 0 )
+        if ( rs->replaydone != 0 && counter++ < 3 )
             fprintf(stderr,"replay finished but readchar called\n");
         rs->replaydone = (uint32_t)time(NULL);
         //if ( (rand() & 1) == 0 )
         //    return(ESCAPE);
         //else
-        return('y');
+        if ( counter < 3 || (counter & 1) == 0 )
+            return('y');
+        else return(ESCAPE);
     }
     if ( rs == 0 || rs->guiflag != 0 )
     {