diff --git a/src/arch/i386/firmware/pcbios/bios_console.c b/src/arch/i386/firmware/pcbios/bios_console.c
index f6867edb..9ad0a72c 100644
--- a/src/arch/i386/firmware/pcbios/bios_console.c
+++ b/src/arch/i386/firmware/pcbios/bios_console.c
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ static int bios_getchar ( void ) {
 	character = ( keypress & 0xff );
 
 	/* If it's a normal character, just return it */
-	if ( character < 0x80 )
+	if ( character && ( character < 0x80 ) )
 		return character;
 
 	/* Otherwise, check for a special key that we know about */