diff --git a/hacking/nix/scope/plat-utils/qemu/automate_simple.py b/hacking/nix/scope/plat-utils/qemu/automate_simple.py
index 3e68c25ad..dffbf7152 100644
--- a/hacking/nix/scope/plat-utils/qemu/automate_simple.py
+++ b/hacking/nix/scope/plat-utils/qemu/automate_simple.py
@@ -18,14 +18,17 @@ def main():
 def run(args):
     child = pexpect.spawn(args.simulate, encoding='utf-8')
     child.logfile = sys.stdout
-    ix = child.expect(['TEST_PASS', 'TEST_FAIL', pexpect.TIMEOUT], timeout=args.timeout)
-    print()
-    if ix != 0:
-        if ix == 1:
-            sys.exit('> test reported failure')
-        if ix == 2:
-            sys.exit('> test timed out')
-        assert False
+    try:
+        ix = child.expect(['TEST_PASS', 'TEST_FAIL', pexpect.TIMEOUT], timeout=args.timeout)
+        print()
+        if ix != 0:
+            if ix == 1:
+                sys.exit('> test reported failure')
+            if ix == 2:
+                sys.exit('> test timed out')
+            assert False
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        sys.exit('> interrupted')
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()