diff --git a/stand/libsa/gets.c b/stand/libsa/gets.c
index 9172ffc1328f..206a6d25fcea 100644
--- a/stand/libsa/gets.c
+++ b/stand/libsa/gets.c
@@ -44,8 +44,11 @@ ngets(char *buf, int n)
     int c;
     char *lp;
 
-    for (lp = buf;;)
-	switch (c = getchar() & 0177) {
+    for (lp = buf;;) {
+	c = getchar();
+	if (c == -1)
+		break;
+	switch (c & 0177) {
 	case '\n':
 	case '\r':
 	    *lp = '\0';
@@ -79,6 +82,7 @@ ngets(char *buf, int n)
 		putchar(c);
 	    }
 	}
+    }
     /*NOTREACHED*/
 }