diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index f6dd1a63f159e970041d8614b0d0223cdf4a8048..d2539b793f9d4fb8ae7299f0183217529d5525d9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -684,7 +684,9 @@ static void *display_thread(void *arg)
 	delay_msecs = top->delay_secs * MSEC_PER_SEC;
 	set_term_quiet_input(&save);
 	/* trash return*/
-	getc(stdin);
+	clearerr(stdin);
+	if (poll(&stdin_poll, 1, 0) > 0)
+		getc(stdin);
 
 	while (!done) {
 		perf_top__print_sym_table(top);