diff --git a/packages/phoenix/packages/pty/exports.js b/packages/phoenix/packages/pty/exports.js
index da317532..90301767 100644
--- a/packages/phoenix/packages/pty/exports.js
+++ b/packages/phoenix/packages/pty/exports.js
@@ -27,21 +27,56 @@ export class BetterReader {
         this.chunks_ = [];
     }
 
-    async read (opt_buffer) {
+    _create_cancel_response () {
+        return {
+            chunk: null,
+            n_read: 0,
+            debug_meta: {
+                source: 'delegate',
+                returning: 'cancelled',
+                this_value_should_not_be_used: true,
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    async read_and_get_info (opt_buffer, cancel_state) {
         if ( ! opt_buffer && this.chunks_.length === 0 ) {
-            return await this.delegate.read();
+            const chunk = await this.delegate.read();
+            if ( cancel_state?.cancelled ) {
+                // push the chunk back onto the queue
+                this.chunks_.push(chunk);
+                return this._create_cancel_response();
+            }
+            return {
+                chunk,
+                debug_meta: { source: 'delegate' },
+            };
         }
 
         const chunk = await this.getChunk_();
+        if ( cancel_state?.cancelled ) {
+            // push the chunk back onto the queue
+            this.chunks_.push(chunk);
+            return this._create_cancel_response();
+        }
 
-        if ( ! opt_buffer || ! chunk ) {
-            return chunk;
+        if ( ! opt_buffer ) {
+            return { chunk, debug_meta: { source: 'stored chunks', returning: 'chunk' } };
+        }
+
+        if ( ! chunk ) {
+            return { n_read: 0, debug_meta: { source: 'nothing', returning: 'byte count' } };
         }
 
         this.chunks_.push(chunk);
 
         while ( this.getTotalBytesReady_() < opt_buffer.length ) {
             const read_chunk = await this.getChunk_();
+            if ( cancel_state?.cancelled ) {
+                // push the chunk back onto the queue
+                this.chunks_.push(read_chunk);
+                return this._create_cancel_response();
+            }
             if ( ! read_chunk ) {
                 break;
             }
@@ -63,14 +98,37 @@ export class BetterReader {
             offset += item.length;
         }
 
-        return offset;
+        return {
+            n_read: offset,
+            debug_meta: { source: 'stored chunks', returning: 'byte count' },
+        };
+    }
+
+    read_with_cancel (opt_buffer) {
+        const cancel_state = { cancelled: false };
+        const promise = (async () => {
+            const { chunk, n_read } = await this.read_and_get_info(opt_buffer, cancel_state);
+            console.log('this is outputting...', chunk, n_read, opt_buffer);
+            return opt_buffer ? n_read : chunk;
+        })();
+        return {
+            canceller: () => {
+                cancel_state.cancelled = true;
+            },
+            promise,
+        };
+    }
+
+    async read (opt_buffer) {
+        const { chunk, n_read } = await this.read_and_get_info(opt_buffer);
+        console.log('this is outputting...', chunk, n_read, opt_buffer);
+        return opt_buffer ? n_read : chunk;
     }
 
     async getChunk_() {
         if ( this.chunks_.length === 0 ) {
-            const { value } = await this.delegate.read().catch( ( err ) => {
-                return {};
-            });
+            const { value } = await this.delegate.read();
+            console.log('got value?', value);
             return value;
         }
 
@@ -84,6 +142,8 @@ export class BetterReader {
 
         this.chunks_ = [];
 
+        console.log('returning merged', merged);
+
         return merged;
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/phoenix/src/ansi-shell/pipeline/Coupler.js b/packages/phoenix/src/ansi-shell/pipeline/Coupler.js
index b66af605..329fa0c4 100644
--- a/packages/phoenix/src/ansi-shell/pipeline/Coupler.js
+++ b/packages/phoenix/src/ansi-shell/pipeline/Coupler.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
  * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
-import { TeePromise } from "../../promise.js";
+import { TeePromise, raceCase } from "../../promise.js";
 
 export class Coupler {
     static description = `
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ export class Coupler {
 
     close () {
         if (this.debug) console.log('closing coupler. source is', this.source);
-        this.source.releaseLock();
         this.closed_.resolve({
             done: true,
         });
@@ -51,11 +50,21 @@ export class Coupler {
     async listenLoop_ () {
         this.active = true;
         for (;;) {
-            const { value, done } = await Promise.race([
-                this.closed_,
-                this.source.read(),
-            ]);
+            let canceller = () => {};
+            let promise;
+            if ( this.source.read_with_cancel !== undefined ) {
+                ({ canceller, promise } = this.source.read_with_cancel());
+            } else {
+                promise = this.source.read();
+            }
+            const [which, { value, done }] = await raceCase({
+                source: promise,
+                closed: this.closed_,
+            });
             if ( done ) {
+                if ( which === 'closed' ) {
+                    canceller();
+                }
                 this.source = null;
                 this.target = null;
                 this.active = false;
diff --git a/packages/phoenix/src/ansi-shell/readline/readline.js b/packages/phoenix/src/ansi-shell/readline/readline.js
index 9f8e69c7..600171f8 100644
--- a/packages/phoenix/src/ansi-shell/readline/readline.js
+++ b/packages/phoenix/src/ansi-shell/readline/readline.js
@@ -57,9 +57,11 @@ const ReadlineProcessorBuilder = builder => builder
         const { locals, externs } = ctx;
 
         const byteBuffer = new Uint8Array(1);
-        const bytesRead = await externs.in_.read(byteBuffer);
+        const { n_read: bytesRead, debug_meta } = await externs.in_.read_and_get_info(byteBuffer);
         if (bytesRead !== 1) {
             console.warn('Failed to read byte in get-byte state of readline');
+            console.log('debug_meta', debug_meta); // so GC doesn't remove it
+            // debugger;
         }
         locals.byteBuffer = byteBuffer;
         locals.byte = byteBuffer[0];
diff --git a/packages/phoenix/src/promise.js b/packages/phoenix/src/promise.js
index 20d080ae..5c47d2bd 100644
--- a/packages/phoenix/src/promise.js
+++ b/packages/phoenix/src/promise.js
@@ -41,3 +41,17 @@ export class TeePromise {
         return this.then(fn);
     }
 }
+
+/**
+ * raceCase is like Promise.race except it takes an object instead of
+ * an array, and returns the key of the promise that resolves first
+ * as well as the value that it resolved to.
+ * 
+ * @param {Object.<string, Promise>} promise_map 
+ * 
+ * @returns {Promise.<[string, any]>}
+ */
+export const raceCase = async (promise_map) => {
+    return Promise.race(Object.entries(promise_map).map(
+        ([key, promise]) => promise.then(value => [key, value])));
+};