Try this: >>> test_save = raw_input('[T]est [S]ave?: ') [T]est [S]ave?: S No answer is received, it hangs until you repeat typing the Enter key (9 or more times). After that, raw-input behaves in another way: >>> test_save = raw_input('[T]est [S]ave?: ') [T]est [S]ave?: >>> Value of test_save is: >>> test_save '' Regards.