diff --git a/xwords4/linux/cursesmain.c b/xwords4/linux/cursesmain.c
index a2e98c97b..370b053ea 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/cursesmain.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/cursesmain.c
@@ -1743,7 +1743,9 @@ cursesmain( XP_Bool isServer, LaunchParams* params )
 #endif
 
 #ifdef USE_GLIBLOOP
-    cursesListenOnSocket( &g_globals, 0, handle_stdin );
+    if ( !params->closeStdin ) {
+        cursesListenOnSocket( &g_globals, 0, handle_stdin );
+    }
     setOneSecondTimer( &g_globals.cGlobals );
 # ifdef DEBUG
     int piperesult = 
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/linuxmain.c b/xwords4/linux/linuxmain.c
index dd3e0aba5..a001d7daf 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/linuxmain.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/linuxmain.c
@@ -1546,7 +1546,6 @@ main( int argc, char** argv )
     XP_Bool isServer = XP_FALSE;
     char* portNum = NULL;
     char* hostName = "localhost";
-    XP_Bool closeStdin = XP_FALSE;
     unsigned int seed = defaultRandomSeed();
     LaunchParams mainParams;
     XP_U16 nPlayerDicts = 0;
@@ -1871,7 +1870,7 @@ main( int argc, char** argv )
             break;
 #endif
         case CMD_CLOSESTDIN:
-            closeStdin = XP_TRUE;
+            mainParams.closeStdin = XP_TRUE;
             break;
         case CMD_QUITAFTER:
             mainParams.quitAfter = atoi(optarg);
@@ -2121,7 +2120,7 @@ main( int argc, char** argv )
         srandom( seed );	/* init linux random number generator */
         XP_LOGF( "seeded srandom with %d", seed );
 
-        if ( closeStdin ) {
+        if ( mainParams.closeStdin ) {
             fclose( stdin );
             if ( mainParams.quitAfter < 0 ) {
                 fprintf( stderr, "stdin closed; you'll need some way to quit\n" );
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/main.h b/xwords4/linux/main.h
index 028ea0b0a..2ae3bf294 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/main.h
+++ b/xwords4/linux/main.h
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ typedef struct LaunchParams {
     XP_Bool duplicatePackets;
     XP_Bool skipGameOver;
     XP_Bool useMmap;
+    XP_Bool closeStdin;
 #ifdef XWFEATURE_SEARCHLIMIT
     XP_Bool allowHintRect;
 #endif