diff --git a/src/input_common.rs b/src/input_common.rs
index 59753c246..81f697279 100644
--- a/src/input_common.rs
+++ b/src/input_common.rs
@@ -434,8 +434,12 @@ static TERMINAL_PROTOCOLS: MainThread<RefCell<Option<TerminalProtocols>>> =
     MainThread::new(RefCell::new(None));
 
 pub(crate) static IS_TMUX: RelaxedAtomicBool = RelaxedAtomicBool::new(false);
+pub(crate) static IN_MIDNIGHT_COMMANDER: RelaxedAtomicBool = RelaxedAtomicBool::new(false);
 
 pub fn terminal_protocols_enable_ifn() {
+    if IN_MIDNIGHT_COMMANDER.load() {
+        return;
+    }
     let mut term_protocols = TERMINAL_PROTOCOLS.get().borrow_mut();
     if term_protocols.is_some() {
         return;
diff --git a/src/reader.rs b/src/reader.rs
index 7b7ba932e..36c87bfbb 100644
--- a/src/reader.rs
+++ b/src/reader.rs
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ use crate::history::{
     SearchType,
 };
 use crate::input::init_input;
+use crate::input_common::IN_MIDNIGHT_COMMANDER;
 use crate::input_common::{
     terminal_protocols_disable_ifn, terminal_protocols_enable_ifn, CharEvent, CharInputStyle,
     InputData, ReadlineCmd, IS_TMUX,
@@ -3847,6 +3848,7 @@ fn reader_interactive_init(parser: &Parser) {
         .set_one(L!("_"), EnvMode::GLOBAL, L!("fish").to_owned());
 
     IS_TMUX.store(parser.vars().get_unless_empty(L!("TMUX")).is_some());
+    IN_MIDNIGHT_COMMANDER.store(parser.vars().get_unless_empty(L!("MC_TMPDIR")).is_some());
 }
 
 /// Destroy data for interactive use.