diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/vt/cons.h b/sys/src/cmd/vt/cons.h
index 76102b745..d6483ae64 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/vt/cons.h
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/vt/cons.h
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ struct Consstate{
 extern Consstate cs[];
 
 #define	INSET	2
-#define	BUFS	32
+#define	BUFS	256
 #define	HISTSIZ	(64*1024)	/* number of history characters */
 #define BSIZE	(8*1024)
 
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/vt/main.c b/sys/src/cmd/vt/main.c
index 33bce24ca..c6ec70976 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/vt/main.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/vt/main.c
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ threadmain(int argc, char **argv)
 		sysfatal("initkeyboard failed: %r");
 
 	hc[0] = chancreate(sizeof(char*), 256);	/* input to host */
-	hc[1] = chancreate(sizeof(Rune*), 8);	/* output from host */
+	hc[1] = chancreate(sizeof(Rune*), 256);	/* output from host */
 
 	cs->raw = rflag;