diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 0c8e71b..6312dc4 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
+* timing mechanism; end execution after it is stuck in a loop for a while
+* fudge the randomness so as to not introduce as many loops?
 * ability to run genetic algorithm on auto generated programs
 * more instructions
diff --git a/src/Interpreter.cpp b/src/Interpreter.cpp
index f338213..b32cfe4 100644
--- a/src/Interpreter.cpp
+++ b/src/Interpreter.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Interpreter::Interpreter(QByteArray program) :
     tape(NULL),
     stdout_(new QTextStream(stdout)),
     stderr_(new QTextStream(stderr)),
+    stdin_(new QTextStream(stdin)),
     m_program(program)
 {
     m_instructions.insert('>', new IncrementHeadInstruction(this));
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ Interpreter::~Interpreter()
 
     delete stdout_;
     delete stderr_;
+    delete stdin_;
 }
 
 void Interpreter::start()
@@ -78,3 +80,10 @@ void Interpreter::setCaptureOutput(bool on)
         this->stdout_ = new QTextStream(stdout);
     }
 }
+
+void Interpreter::setInput(QByteArray input)
+{
+    m_input = input;
+    delete stdin_;
+    stdin_ = new QTextStream(&m_input);
+}
diff --git a/src/Interpreter.h b/src/Interpreter.h
index b1019da..e77ab20 100644
--- a/src/Interpreter.h
+++ b/src/Interpreter.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class Interpreter
     ~Interpreter();
 
     void setCaptureOutput(bool on);
+    void setInput(QByteArray input);
 
     void start();
 
@@ -30,12 +31,14 @@ class Interpreter
 
     QTextStream * stdout_;
     QTextStream * stderr_;
+    QTextStream * stdin_;
 
 private:
     QByteArray m_program;
     QString m_stdout_str;
     QString m_stderr_str;
 
+    QByteArray m_input;
 
     Instruction * m_noop;
 
diff --git a/src/instructions.h b/src/instructions.h
index b17194a..7599e0c 100644
--- a/src/instructions.h
+++ b/src/instructions.h
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 #include "Instruction.h"
 #include "Interpreter.h"
 
-#include <iostream>
-
 class NoopInstruction : public Instruction
 {
 public:
@@ -63,7 +61,7 @@ class InputHeadInstruction : public Instruction
     InputHeadInstruction(Interpreter * interpreter) : Instruction(interpreter) {}
     void execute() {
         char byte;
-        std::cin >> byte;
+        *(m_interpreter->stdin_) >> byte;
         m_interpreter->tape->writeToHead(byte);
     }
 };
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 22a08da..0b4ab75 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         qDebug() << "evaluating program" << i;
         Interpreter * interp = new Interpreter(program_set.at(i));
         interp->setCaptureOutput(true);
-
+        interp->setInput(QByteArray());
         interp->start();
 
         QString output = interp->stdout_->readAll();