diff --git a/src/prompt.c b/src/prompt.c
index cd402325..d8d422b2 100644
--- a/src/prompt.c
+++ b/src/prompt.c
@@ -200,9 +200,9 @@ void do_statusbar_verbatim_input(void)
 
 	bytes = get_verbatim_kbinput(bottomwin, &count);
 
-	if (count > 0)
+	if (0 < count && count < 999)
 		inject_into_answer(bytes, count);
-	else
+	else if (count == 0)
 		beep();
 
 	free(bytes);
diff --git a/src/text.c b/src/text.c
index d63af9d8..a981c57f 100644
--- a/src/text.c
+++ b/src/text.c
@@ -3016,15 +3016,17 @@ void do_verbatim_input(void)
 
 	/* When something valid was obtained, unsuppress cursor-position display,
 	 * insert the bytes into the edit buffer, and blank the status bar. */
-	if (count > 0) {
+	if (0 < count && count < 999) {
 		if (ISSET(CONSTANT_SHOW))
 			lastmessage = VACUUM;
 
 		inject(bytes, count);
 		wipe_statusbar();
-	} else
+	} else if (count == 0)
 		/* TRANSLATORS: An invalid verbatim Unicode code was typed. */
 		statusline(ALERT, _("Invalid code"));
+	else
+		wipe_statusbar();
 
 	free(bytes);
 }
diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index e4095cc0..f2e3fa98 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -1375,7 +1375,7 @@ int *parse_verbatim_kbinput(WINDOW *win, size_t *count)
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
 	/* When the window was resized, abort and return nothing. */
 	if (keycode == KEY_WINCH) {
-		*count = 0;
+		*count = 999;
 		return NULL;
 	}
 #endif
@@ -1397,6 +1397,12 @@ int *parse_verbatim_kbinput(WINDOW *win, size_t *count)
 			unicode = assemble_unicode(keycode);
 		}
 
+		if (keycode == KEY_WINCH) {
+			*count = 999;
+			free(yield);
+			return NULL;
+		}
+
 		/* For an invalid digit, discard its possible continuation bytes. */
 		if (unicode == INVALID_DIGIT)
 			while (key_buffer_len > 0 && 0x7F < *key_buffer && *key_buffer < 0xC0)
@@ -1480,9 +1486,11 @@ char *get_verbatim_kbinput(WINDOW *win, size_t *count)
 		keypad(bottomwin, TRUE);
 	}
 
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < *count; i++)
-		bytes[i] = (char)input[i];
-	bytes[*count] = '\0';
+	if (*count < 999) {
+		for (size_t i = 0; i < *count; i++)
+			bytes[i] = (char)input[i];
+		bytes[*count] = '\0';
+	}
 
 	free(input);