diff --git a/com.oracle.truffle.r.launcher/src/com/oracle/truffle/r/launcher/JLineConsoleHandler.java b/com.oracle.truffle.r.launcher/src/com/oracle/truffle/r/launcher/JLineConsoleHandler.java
index fc2f1e2e3b60fbcff32e82617e4623db533cadae..e3c4cee27ef1c5139af1cdfa22552b540f4cf8ff 100644
--- a/com.oracle.truffle.r.launcher/src/com/oracle/truffle/r/launcher/JLineConsoleHandler.java
+++ b/com.oracle.truffle.r.launcher/src/com/oracle/truffle/r/launcher/JLineConsoleHandler.java
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ public class JLineConsoleHandler extends ConsoleHandler {
             console.getTerminal().init();
             return console.readLine();
         } catch (UserInterruptException e) {
-            throw e;
+            // interrupted by ctrl-c
+            return "";
         } catch (Exception ex) {
             throw new RuntimeException(ex);
         }