diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index cc2fe9f..45e06b7 100644
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,22 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
 
-import { exitAlternateScreenBuffer } from "./utils/screen.js";
+import {
+  exitAlternateScreenBuffer,
+  isInAlternateScreenBuffer,
+} from "./utils/screen.js";
 import { processUtils } from "./utils/processUtils.js";
 import { createProgram } from "./utils/commands.js";
 import { getApiKeyErrorMessage, checkBaseDomain } from "./utils/config.js";
 
 // Global Ctrl+C handler to ensure it always exits
 processUtils.on("SIGINT", () => {
-  // Force exit immediately, clearing alternate screen buffer
-  exitAlternateScreenBuffer();
+  // Only restore the alternate screen buffer if we actually entered it.
+  // Unconditionally sending the exit sequence when no TUI is active causes
+  // the terminal to restore a stale saved-cursor position, jumping the
+  // cursor and garbling any plain-text output (e.g. `rli d ssh` wait loop).
+  if (isInAlternateScreenBuffer()) {
+    exitAlternateScreenBuffer();
+  }
   processUtils.stdout.write("\n");
   processUtils.exit(130); // Standard exit code for SIGINT
 });
diff --git a/src/utils/screen.ts b/src/utils/screen.ts
index e89a93d..18cae86 100644
--- a/src/utils/screen.ts
+++ b/src/utils/screen.ts
@@ -9,12 +9,20 @@
 
 import { processUtils } from "./processUtils.js";
 
+let _inAlternateScreenBuffer = false;
+
+/** Returns true if the alternate screen buffer is currently active. */
+export function isInAlternateScreenBuffer(): boolean {
+  return _inAlternateScreenBuffer;
+}
+
 /**
  * Enter the alternate screen buffer.
  * This provides a fullscreen experience where content won't mix with
  * previous terminal output. Like vim or top.
  */
 export function enterAlternateScreenBuffer(): void {
+  _inAlternateScreenBuffer = true;
   processUtils.stdout.write("\x1b[?1049h");
 }
 
@@ -23,6 +31,7 @@ export function enterAlternateScreenBuffer(): void {
  * This returns the terminal to its original state before enterAlternateScreen() was called.
  */
 export function exitAlternateScreenBuffer(): void {
+  _inAlternateScreenBuffer = false;
   processUtils.stdout.write("\x1b[?1049l");
 }