diff --git a/src/commands.cc b/src/commands.cc
index 3aea2c11..29cd9312 100644
--- a/src/commands.cc
+++ b/src/commands.cc
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #include "buffer.hh"
 #include "window.hh"
 #include "file.hh"
-#include "ncurses.hh"
+#include "ui.hh"
 #include "regex.hh"
 #include "highlighter_registry.hh"
 #include "filter_registry.hh"
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ extern Context main_context;
 extern bool    quit_requested;
 
 extern std::unordered_map<Key, std::function<void (Editor& editor, int count)>> keymap;
-extern PromptFunc prompt_func;
-extern GetKeyFunc get_key_func;
 
 namespace
 {
@@ -220,7 +218,7 @@ Buffer* open_or_create(const String& filename)
     }
     catch (file_not_found& what)
     {
-        NCurses::print_status("new file " + filename);
+        print_status("new file " + filename);
         buffer = new Buffer(filename, Buffer::Type::NewFile);
     }
     return buffer;
@@ -291,7 +289,7 @@ void quit(const CommandParameters& params, const Context& context)
                 message += *it;
             }
             message += "]";
-            NCurses::print_status(message);
+            print_status(message);
             return;
         }
     }
@@ -369,7 +367,7 @@ void add_highlighter(const CommandParameters& params, const Context& context)
     }
     catch (runtime_error& err)
     {
-        NCurses::print_status("error: " + err.description());
+        print_status("error: " + err.description());
     }
 }
 
@@ -389,7 +387,7 @@ void rm_highlighter(const CommandParameters& params, const Context& context)
     }
     catch (runtime_error& err)
     {
-        NCurses::print_status("error: " + err.description());
+        print_status("error: " + err.description());
     }
 }
 
@@ -407,7 +405,7 @@ void add_filter(const CommandParameters& params, const Context& context)
     }
     catch (runtime_error& err)
     {
-        NCurses::print_status("error: " + err.description());
+        print_status("error: " + err.description());
     }
 }
 
@@ -438,7 +436,7 @@ void add_hook(const CommandParameters& params, const Context& context)
     else if (params[0] == "window")
         context.window().hook_manager().add_hook(params[1], hook_func);
     else
-        NCurses::print_status("error: no such hook container " + params[0]);
+        print_status("error: no such hook container " + params[0]);
 }
 
 EnvVarMap params_to_env_var_map(const CommandParameters& params)
@@ -523,7 +521,7 @@ void echo_message(const CommandParameters& params, const Context& context)
     String message;
     for (auto& param : params)
         message += param + " ";
-    NCurses::print_status(message);
+    print_status(message);
 }
 
 void exec_commands_in_file(const CommandParameters& params,
@@ -559,7 +557,7 @@ void exec_commands_in_file(const CommandParameters& params,
 
                  if (end_pos == length)
                  {
-                     NCurses::print_status(String("unterminated '") + delimiter + "' string");
+                     print_status(String("unterminated '") + delimiter + "' string");
                      return;
                  }
 
@@ -584,7 +582,7 @@ void exec_commands_in_file(const CommandParameters& params,
          if (end_pos == length)
          {
              if (cat_with_previous)
-                 NCurses::print_status("while executing commands in \"" + params[0] +
+                 print_status("while executing commands in \"" + params[0] +
                               "\": last command not complete");
              break;
          }
@@ -645,37 +643,64 @@ private:
     char                m_name;
 };
 
+class BatchUI : public UI
+{
+public:
+    BatchUI(const KeyList& keys)
+        : m_keys(keys), m_pos(0)
+    {
+        m_previous_ui = current_ui;
+        current_ui = this;
+    }
+
+    ~BatchUI()
+    {
+        current_ui = m_previous_ui;
+    }
+
+    String prompt(const String&, Completer)
+    {
+        size_t begin = m_pos;
+        while (m_pos < m_keys.size() and m_keys[m_pos].key != '\n')
+            ++m_pos;
+
+        String result;
+        for (size_t i = begin; i < m_pos; ++i)
+            result += String() + m_keys[i].key;
+        ++m_pos;
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    Key get_key()
+    {
+        if (m_pos >= m_keys.size())
+            throw runtime_error("no more characters");
+        return m_keys[m_pos++];
+    }
+
+    void print_status(const String& status)
+    {
+        m_previous_ui->print_status(status);
+    }
+
+    void draw_window(Window& window)
+    {
+        m_previous_ui->draw_window(window);
+    }
+
+    bool has_key_left() const { return m_pos < m_keys.size(); }
+
+private:
+    const KeyList& m_keys;
+    size_t m_pos;
+    UI*    m_previous_ui;
+};
+
 void exec_keys(const KeyList& keys,
                const Context& context)
 {
-    auto prompt_save = prompt_func;
-    auto get_key_save = get_key_func;
-
-    auto restore_funcs = on_scope_end([&]() {
-        prompt_func = prompt_save;
-        get_key_func = get_key_save;
-    });
-
-    size_t pos = 0;
-
-    prompt_func = [&](const String&, Completer) {
-        size_t begin = pos;
-        while (pos < keys.size() and keys[pos].key != '\n')
-            ++pos;
-
-        String result;
-        for (size_t i = begin; i < pos; ++i)
-            result += String() + keys[i].key;
-        ++pos;
-
-        return result;
-    };
-
-    get_key_func = [&]() {
-        if (pos >= keys.size())
-            throw runtime_error("no more characters");
-        return keys[pos++];
-    };
+    BatchUI batch_ui(keys);
 
     RegisterRestorer quote('"');
     RegisterRestorer slash('/');
@@ -687,9 +712,9 @@ void exec_keys(const KeyList& keys,
     scoped_edition edition(editor);
 
     int count = 0;
-    while(pos < keys.size())
+    while (batch_ui.has_key_left())
     {
-        const Key& key = keys[pos++];
+        Key key = batch_ui.get_key();
 
         if (key.modifiers == Key::Modifiers::None and isdigit(key.key))
             count = count * 10 + key.key - '0';
@@ -742,7 +767,7 @@ void menu(const CommandParameters& params,
     }
     oss << "(empty cancels): ";
 
-    String choice = prompt_func(oss.str(), complete_nothing);
+    String choice = prompt(oss.str(), complete_nothing);
     int i = atoi(choice.c_str());
 
     if (i > 0 and i < (count / 2) + 1)
diff --git a/src/main.cc b/src/main.cc
index 641196a8..c133dd91 100644
--- a/src/main.cc
+++ b/src/main.cc
@@ -31,24 +31,6 @@ namespace Kakoune
 Context main_context;
 bool quit_requested = false;
 
-void draw_editor_ifn(Editor& editor)
-{
-    Window* window = dynamic_cast<Window*>(&editor);
-    if (window)
-        NCurses::draw_window(*window);
-}
-
-PromptFunc prompt_func;
-String prompt(const String& text, Completer completer = complete_nothing)
-{
-    return prompt_func(text, completer);
-}
-
-GetKeyFunc get_key_func;
-Key get_key()
-{
-    return get_key_func();
-}
 
 struct InsertSequence
 {
@@ -243,7 +225,7 @@ void do_search_next(Editor& editor)
     if (not ex.empty())
         editor.select(std::bind(select_next_match, _1, ex), append);
     else
-        NCurses::print_status("no search pattern");
+        print_status("no search pattern");
 }
 
 void do_yank(Editor& editor, int count)
@@ -401,8 +383,8 @@ std::unordered_map<Key, std::function<void (Editor& editor, int count)>> keymap
     { { Key::Modifiers::None, 'n' }, [](Editor& editor, int count) { do_search_next<false>(editor); } },
     { { Key::Modifiers::None, 'N' }, [](Editor& editor, int count) { do_search_next<true>(editor); } },
 
-    { { Key::Modifiers::None, 'u' }, [](Editor& editor, int count) { do { if (not editor.undo()) { NCurses::print_status("nothing left to undo"); break; } } while(--count > 0); } },
-    { { Key::Modifiers::None, 'U' }, [](Editor& editor, int count) { do { if (not editor.redo()) { NCurses::print_status("nothing left to redo"); break; } } while(--count > 0); } },
+    { { Key::Modifiers::None, 'u' }, [](Editor& editor, int count) { do { if (not editor.undo()) { print_status("nothing left to undo"); break; } } while(--count > 0); } },
+    { { Key::Modifiers::None, 'U' }, [](Editor& editor, int count) { do { if (not editor.redo()) { print_status("nothing left to redo"); break; } } while(--count > 0); } },
 
     { { Key::Modifiers::Alt,  'i' }, do_select_object<true> },
     { { Key::Modifiers::Alt,  'a' }, do_select_object<false> },
@@ -437,8 +419,6 @@ void run_unit_tests();
 
 int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
-    NCurses::init(prompt_func, get_key_func);
-
     ShellManager        shell_manager;
     CommandManager      command_manager;
     BufferManager       buffer_manager;
@@ -466,11 +446,14 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
     catch (Kakoune::runtime_error& error)
     {
-        NCurses::print_status(error.description());
+        print_status(error.description());
     }
 
     try
     {
+        NCursesUI ui;
+        current_ui = &ui;
+
         write_debug("*** This is the debug buffer, where debug info will be written ***\n");
         write_debug("utf-8 test: é á ï");
 
@@ -482,7 +465,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
             main_context = Context(*buffer->get_or_create_window());
         }
 
-        NCurses::draw_window(main_context.window());
+        current_ui->draw_window(main_context.window());
         int count = 0;
         while(not quit_requested)
         {
@@ -497,29 +480,22 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
                     if (it != keymap.end())
                     {
                         it->second(main_context.window(), count);
-                        NCurses::draw_window(main_context.window());
+                        current_ui->draw_window(main_context.window());
                     }
                     count = 0;
                 }
             }
             catch (Kakoune::runtime_error& error)
             {
-                NCurses::print_status(error.description());
+                print_status(error.description());
             }
         }
-        NCurses::deinit();
     }
     catch (Kakoune::exception& error)
     {
-        NCurses::deinit();
         puts("uncaught exception:\n");
         puts(error.description().c_str());
         return -1;
     }
-    catch (...)
-    {
-        NCurses::deinit();
-        throw;
-    }
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/ncurses.cc b/src/ncurses.cc
index 177530b7..791b72b4 100644
--- a/src/ncurses.cc
+++ b/src/ncurses.cc
@@ -10,8 +10,26 @@
 
 namespace Kakoune
 {
-namespace NCurses
+
+NCursesUI::NCursesUI()
 {
+    // setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
+    initscr();
+    cbreak();
+    noecho();
+    nonl();
+    intrflush(stdscr, false);
+    keypad(stdscr, true);
+    curs_set(0);
+    start_color();
+    use_default_colors();
+    ESCDELAY=25;
+}
+
+NCursesUI::~NCursesUI()
+{
+    endwin();
+}
 
 static void set_attribute(int attribute, bool on)
 {
@@ -69,7 +87,7 @@ static void set_color(Color fg_color, Color bg_color)
     }
 }
 
-void draw_window(Window& window)
+void NCursesUI::draw_window(Window& window)
 {
     int max_x,max_y;
     getmaxyx(stdscr, max_y, max_x);
@@ -142,7 +160,7 @@ void draw_window(Window& window)
     last_status_length = status_line.length();
 }
 
-static Key get_key()
+Key NCursesUI::get_key()
 {
     char c = getch();
 
@@ -166,7 +184,7 @@ static Key get_key()
     return Key(modifiers, c);
 }
 
-static String prompt(const String& text, Completer completer)
+String NCursesUI::prompt(const String& text, Completer completer)
 {
     curs_set(2);
     auto restore_cursor = on_scope_end([]() { curs_set(0); });
@@ -303,7 +321,7 @@ static String prompt(const String& text, Completer completer)
     return result;
 }
 
-void print_status(const String& status)
+void NCursesUI::print_status(const String& status)
 {
     int x,y;
     getmaxyx(stdscr, y, x);
@@ -312,29 +330,4 @@ void print_status(const String& status)
     addstr(status.c_str());
 }
 
-void init(PromptFunc& prompt_func, GetKeyFunc& get_key_func)
-{
-    // setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
-    initscr();
-    cbreak();
-    noecho();
-    nonl();
-    intrflush(stdscr, false);
-    keypad(stdscr, true);
-    curs_set(0);
-    start_color();
-    use_default_colors();
-    ESCDELAY=25;
-
-    prompt_func = prompt;
-    get_key_func = get_key;
-}
-
-void deinit()
-{
-    endwin();
-}
-
-}
-
 }
diff --git a/src/ncurses.hh b/src/ncurses.hh
index a262f6a2..640b0fd5 100644
--- a/src/ncurses.hh
+++ b/src/ncurses.hh
@@ -1,30 +1,26 @@
 #ifndef ncurses_hh_INCLUDED
 #define ncurses_hh_INCLUDED
 
-#include <functional>
-
-#include "keys.hh"
-#include "completion.hh"
+#include "ui.hh"
 
 namespace Kakoune
 {
 
-class Window;
-
-typedef std::function<String (const String&, Completer)> PromptFunc;
-typedef std::function<Key ()> GetKeyFunc;
-
-struct prompt_aborted {};
-
-namespace NCurses
+class NCursesUI : public UI
 {
+public:
+    NCursesUI();
+    ~NCursesUI();
 
-void init(PromptFunc& prompt_func, GetKeyFunc& get_key_func);
-void deinit();
-void draw_window(Window& window);
-void print_status(const String& status);
+    NCursesUI(const NCursesUI&) = delete;
+    NCursesUI& operator=(const NCursesUI&) = delete;
 
-}
+    void draw_window(Window& window);
+    void print_status(const String& status);
+
+    String prompt(const String& prompt, Completer completer);
+    Key    get_key();
+};
 
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ui.cc b/src/ui.cc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..319c9a35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#include "ui.hh"
+
+#include "window.hh"
+
+namespace Kakoune
+{
+
+UI* current_ui = nullptr;
+
+void draw_editor_ifn(Editor& editor)
+{
+    Window* window = dynamic_cast<Window*>(&editor);
+    if (current_ui and window)
+        current_ui->draw_window(*window);
+}
+
+String prompt(const String& text, Completer completer)
+{
+    assert(current_ui);
+    return current_ui->prompt(text, completer);
+}
+
+Key get_key()
+{
+    assert(current_ui);
+    return current_ui->get_key();
+}
+
+void print_status(const String& status)
+{
+    assert(current_ui);
+    return current_ui->print_status(status);
+}
+
+}
diff --git a/src/ui.hh b/src/ui.hh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d7ca510a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#ifndef ui_hh_INCLUDED
+#define ui_hh_INCLUDED
+
+#include "keys.hh"
+#include "completion.hh"
+
+namespace Kakoune
+{
+
+class Editor;
+class Window;
+class String;
+
+class UI
+{
+public:
+    virtual ~UI() {}
+
+    virtual void   draw_window(Window& window) = 0;
+    virtual void   print_status(const String& status) = 0;
+    virtual String prompt(const String& prompt, Completer completer) = 0;
+    virtual Key    get_key() = 0;
+};
+
+struct prompt_aborted {};
+
+extern UI* current_ui;
+
+void draw_editor_ifn(Editor& editor);
+String prompt(const String& text, Completer completer = complete_nothing);
+Key get_key();
+void print_status(const String& status);
+
+}
+
+#endif // ui_hh_INCLUDED
+