diff --git a/src/shell_manager.cc b/src/shell_manager.cc
index 96cfb063c..62a60dc29 100644
--- a/src/shell_manager.cc
+++ b/src/shell_manager.cc
@@ -355,6 +355,7 @@ std::pair<String, int> ShellManager::eval(
         client.redraw_ifn();
     }, EventMode::Urgent};
 
+    bool cancelling = false;
     while (not terminated or child_stdin.write_fd() != -1 or
            ((flags & Flags::WaitForStdout) and
             (child_stdout.read_fd() != -1 or child_stderr.read_fd() != -1)))
@@ -363,6 +364,11 @@ std::pair<String, int> ShellManager::eval(
         {
             EventManager::instance().handle_next_events(EventMode::Urgent, &orig_mask);
         }
+        catch (cancel&)
+        {
+            kill(pid, SIGINT);
+            cancelling = true;
+        }
         catch (runtime_error& error)
         {
             write_to_debug_buffer(format("error while waiting for shell: {}", error.what()));
@@ -385,6 +391,9 @@ std::pair<String, int> ShellManager::eval(
                                      (size_t)full.count(), (size_t)spawn.count(), (size_t)wait.count()));
     }
 
+    if (cancelling)
+        throw cancel{};
+
     if (previous_status) // restore the status line
     {
         context.print_status(std::move(*previous_status));