diff --git a/src/prompt.c b/src/prompt.c
index 9aaa5168..5589d7c4 100644
--- a/src/prompt.c
+++ b/src/prompt.c
@@ -310,22 +310,14 @@ void do_statusbar_prev_word(void)
 /* Get a verbatim keystroke and insert it into the answer. */
 void do_statusbar_verbatim_input(void)
 {
-	int *kbinput;
 	char *bytes;
 	size_t count;
 
-	kbinput = get_verbatim_kbinput(bottomwin, &count);
-
-	bytes = charalloc(count + 1);
-
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < count; i++)
-		bytes[i] = (char)kbinput[i];
-	bytes[count] = '\0';
+	bytes = get_verbatim_kbinput(bottomwin, &count);
 
 	inject_into_answer(bytes, count);
 
 	free(bytes);
-	free(kbinput);
 }
 
 /* Paste the first line of the cutbuffer into the current answer. */
diff --git a/src/proto.h b/src/proto.h
index 172a6fa4..3ef377cc 100644
--- a/src/proto.h
+++ b/src/proto.h
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ int parse_kbinput(WINDOW *win);
 int get_kbinput(WINDOW *win, bool showcursor);
 int get_byte_kbinput(int kbinput);
 int get_control_kbinput(int kbinput);
-int *get_verbatim_kbinput(WINDOW *win, size_t *count);
+char *get_verbatim_kbinput(WINDOW *win, size_t *count);
 #ifdef ENABLE_MOUSE
 int get_mouseinput(int *mouse_row, int *mouse_col, bool allow_shortcuts);
 #endif
diff --git a/src/text.c b/src/text.c
index 2859ba58..3f24ff51 100644
--- a/src/text.c
+++ b/src/text.c
@@ -3131,9 +3131,8 @@ void do_wordlinechar_count(void)
 /* Get verbatim input. */
 void do_verbatim_input(void)
 {
-	int *kbinput;
-	size_t count;
 	char *bytes;
+	size_t count;
 
 	/* TRANSLATORS: This is displayed when the next keystroke will be
 	 * inserted verbatim. */
@@ -3141,7 +3140,7 @@ void do_verbatim_input(void)
 	place_the_cursor();
 
 	/* Read in the first one or two bytes of the next keystroke. */
-	kbinput = get_verbatim_kbinput(edit, &count);
+	bytes = get_verbatim_kbinput(edit, &count);
 
 	/* Unsuppress cursor-position display or blank the status bar. */
 	if (ISSET(CONSTANT_SHOW))
@@ -3149,17 +3148,10 @@ void do_verbatim_input(void)
 	else
 		wipe_statusbar();
 
-	bytes = charalloc(count + 1);
-
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < count; i++)
-		bytes[i] = (char)kbinput[i];
-	bytes[count] = '\0';
-
 	/* Insert the bytes into the edit buffer. */
 	inject(bytes, count);
 
 	free(bytes);
-	free(kbinput);
 }
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_WORDCOMPLETION
diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index f2bdee34..1bb52bbb 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -1578,8 +1578,9 @@ int *parse_verbatim_kbinput(WINDOW *win, size_t *count)
 
 /* Read in one control code, one character byte, or the leading escapes of
  * an escape sequence, and return the resulting number of bytes in count. */
-int *get_verbatim_kbinput(WINDOW *win, size_t *count)
+char *get_verbatim_kbinput(WINDOW *win, size_t *count)
 {
+	char *bytes = charalloc(3);
 	int *input;
 
 	/* Turn off flow control characters if necessary so that we can type
@@ -1611,7 +1612,13 @@ int *get_verbatim_kbinput(WINDOW *win, size_t *count)
 		keypad(bottomwin, TRUE);
 	}
 
-	return input;
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < *count; i++)
+		bytes[i] = (char)input[i];
+	bytes[*count] = '\0';
+
+	free(input);
+
+	return bytes;
 }
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_MOUSE