diff --git a/tools/lib/subcmd/pager.c b/tools/lib/subcmd/pager.c
index 6518bea926d6..68af60fdf0b9 100644
--- a/tools/lib/subcmd/pager.c
+++ b/tools/lib/subcmd/pager.c
@@ -29,10 +29,13 @@ static void pager_preexec(void)
 	 * have real input
 	 */
 	fd_set in;
+	fd_set exception;
 
 	FD_ZERO(&in);
+	FD_ZERO(&exception);
 	FD_SET(0, &in);
-	select(1, &in, NULL, &in, NULL);
+	FD_SET(0, &exception);
+	select(1, &in, NULL, &exception, NULL);
 
 	setenv("LESS", "FRSX", 0);
 }