Assuming this reader macro in clisp\slime: (SET-DISPATCH-MACRO-CHARACTER (CHARACTER "#") (CHARACTER "!") (LAMBDA (STREAM CHAR ARG) (DECLARE (IGNORE CHAR ARG)) ;; read characters up to the first occurence of "!#", ;; and return the string read. (loop for curr = (read-char stream nil nil t) while (and curr (or (char/= (character "!") curr) (char/= (character "#") (peek-char nil stream nil nil t)))) collect curr into str finally (read-char stream nil nil t) (return (coerce str 'string))))) Typing: #! hello RET returns: " hello " instead of waiting for further input. With clisp\xterm this works as expected: #! hello RET waits for further input: the last line !# RET returns: " hello the last line " -- __Pascal Bourguignon__ http://www.informatimago.com/ The world will now reboot; don't bother saving your artefacts.