Superuser commands like sudo fail on Ghostty but not TTY or other terminal emulators

[IndigoTeddy13]

Issue Description

When trying to run any command that requires superuser privileges, it fails to run on Ghostty. I made sure my user was added to the wheel usergroup, and confirmed in visudo that the user has superuser privileges. It works in TTY or other terminal emulators (Alacritty, Konsole), but not Ghostty. I am given the password prompt, but it fails to register my password, despite working normally on other terminal emulators and the TTY.

Expected Behavior

Typing in the sudo password ought to work, just like it works in other terminal emulators and the TTY.

Actual Behavior

Typing the sudo password counts as a failure, even if you type it correctly. This only happens on Ghostty

Reproduction Steps

1. Open Ghostty.
2. Type a command that requires superuser privileges or otherwise calls sudo or su (ie: sudo whoami).
3. Type password in prompt.

Ghostty Logs

$ ghostty
info: ghostty version=1.2.3-arch1.1
info: ghostty build optimize=ReleaseFast
info: runtime=apprt.Runtime.gtk
info: font_backend=font.main.Backend.fontconfig_freetype
info: dependency harfbuzz=12.1.0
info: dependency fontconfig=21701
info: renderer=renderer.generic.Renderer(renderer.OpenGL)
info: libxev default backend=io_uring
info(os_locale): setlocale from env result=en_CA.UTF-8
info(gtk): GTK version build=4.20.2 runtime=4.20.2
info(gtk): libadwaita version build=1.8.1 runtime=1.8.1
info: reading configuration file path=/home/indigo/.config/ghostty/config
info(config): default shell src=passwd value=/bin/bash
info(config): default working directory src=passwd value=/home/indigo
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): setting GDK_DEBUG=
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): setting GDK_DISABLE=gles-api,vulkan

(process:30828): Adwaita-WARNING **: 21:41:52.170: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
info(gtk_systemd_cgroup): transient scope created cgroup=/user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/app-ghostty-transient-30828.scope
info(gtk_ghostty_application): cgroup isolation enabled base=/user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/app-ghostty-transient-30828.scope
info(opengl): loaded OpenGL 4.6
info(font_shared_grid_set): font regular: FiraCode Nerd Font Mono Reg
info(font_shared_grid_set): font bold: FiraCode Nerd Font Mono Bold
info(font_shared_grid_set): font italic: FiraCode Nerd Font Mono Reg
info(font_shared_grid_set): font bold_italic: FiraCode Nerd Font Mono Bold
info(io_exec): found Ghostty resources dir: /usr/share/ghostty
info(io_exec): shell integration automatically injected shell=termio.shell_integration.Shell.bash
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.cell_size
info(io_exec): started subcommand path=/bin/bash pid=30879
info(io_exec): subcommand cgroup=/user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/app-ghostty-transient-30828.scope/surfaces/559019B59E10.scope
info(io_handler): setting dynamic color pointer_foreground not implemented
info(io_handler): setting dynamic color highlight_background not implemented
info(io_handler): setting dynamic color highlight_foreground not implemented
info(io_handler): setting special colors not implemented
info(io_handler): setting special colors not implemented
warning(osc): invalid OSC command: 708;[95]#000000
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.secure_input
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.secure_input
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.secure_input
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.secure_input
warning(stream): unimplemented OSC callback: terminal.osc.Command{ .end_of_command = terminal.osc.Command__struct_253465{ .exit_code = 0 } }
warning(stream): unimplemented OSC command: end_of_command
info(io_exec): pty fd closed, read thread exiting
info(surface): surface closed addr=55901b0c7d50

Ghostty Version

Ghostty 1.2.3-arch1.1

Version
  - version: 1.2.3-arch1.1
  - channel: tip
Build Config
  - Zig version   : 0.14.1
  - build mode    : builtin.OptimizeMode.ReleaseFast
  - app runtime   : apprt.Runtime.gtk
  - font engine   : font.main.Backend.fontconfig_freetype
  - renderer      : renderer.generic.Renderer(renderer.OpenGL)
  - libxev        : io_uring
  - kernel version: 6.17.4-4-cachyos
  - desktop env   : other
  - GTK version   :
    build         : 4.20.2
    runtime       : 4.20.2
  - libadwaita    : enabled
    build         : 1.8.1
    runtime       : 1.8.1
  - libX11        : enabled
  - libwayland    : enabled

OS Version Information

CachyOS x86_64 (Linux 6.17.4-4-cachyos)

(Linux only) Display Server

Wayland

(Linux only) Desktop Environment/Window Manager

Hyprland 0.51.1

Minimal Ghostty Configuration

# This is the configuration file for Ghostty.
# Fonts
font-family = "FiraCode Nerd Font Mono"
# Colors
background = #000000
background-opacity = 0.85

Additional Relevant Configuration

No response

I acknowledge that:

• I have reviewed the FAQ and confirm that my issue is NOT among them.
• I have searched the Ghostty repository (both open and closed Discussions and Issues) and confirm this is not a duplicate of an existing issue or discussion.
• I have checked the "Preview" tab on all text fields to ensure that everything looks right, and have wrapped all configuration and code in code blocks with a group of three backticks (```) on separate lines.

[mitchellh]

I use sudo constantly, and I'm sure many others do. This sound like maybe a terminfo issue. Our sudo shell integration should solve it for you. Docs: https://ghostty.org/docs/help/terminfo

[IndigoTeddy13]

Updated config:

# This is the configuration file for Ghostty.
# Fonts
font-family = "FiraCode Nerd Font Mono"
# Colors
background = #000000
background-opacity = 0.85
# Ghostty sudo fix
shell-integration-features = sudo

Didn't work though

$ sudo whoami
[sudo] password for indigo:
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for indigo:
sudo: 1 incorrect password attempt
[ble: exit 1]

[IndigoTeddy13]

Let me include a log this time:
Input in Ghostty:

$sudo whoami
[sudo] password for indigo:
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for indigo:
sudo: 1 incorrect password attempt
[ble: exit 1]

Log (in Alacritty):

$ ghostty
info: ghostty version=1.2.3-arch1.1
info: ghostty build optimize=ReleaseFast
info: runtime=apprt.Runtime.gtk
info: font_backend=font.main.Backend.fontconfig_freetype
info: dependency harfbuzz=12.1.0
info: dependency fontconfig=21701
info: renderer=renderer.generic.Renderer(renderer.OpenGL)
info: libxev default backend=io_uring
info(os_locale): setlocale from env result=en_CA.UTF-8
info(gtk): GTK version build=4.20.2 runtime=4.20.2
info(gtk): libadwaita version build=1.8.1 runtime=1.8.1
info: reading configuration file path=/home/indigo/.config/ghostty/config
info(config): default shell src=passwd value=/bin/bash
info(config): default working directory src=passwd value=/home/indigo
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): setting GDK_DEBUG=
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): setting GDK_DISABLE=gles-api,vulkan

(process:166804): Adwaita-WARNING **: 22:41:15.229: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
info(gtk_systemd_cgroup): transient scope created cgroup=/user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/app-ghostty-transient-166804.scope
info(gtk_ghostty_application): cgroup isolation enabled base=/user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/app-ghostty-transient-166804.scope
info(opengl): loaded OpenGL 4.6
info(font_shared_grid_set): font regular: FiraCode Nerd Font Mono Reg
info(font_shared_grid_set): font bold: FiraCode Nerd Font Mono Bold
info(font_shared_grid_set): font italic: FiraCode Nerd Font Mono Reg
info(font_shared_grid_set): font bold_italic: FiraCode Nerd Font Mono Bold
info(io_exec): found Ghostty resources dir: /usr/share/ghostty
info(io_exec): shell integration automatically injected shell=termio.shell_integration.Shell.bash
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.cell_size
info(io_exec): started subcommand path=/bin/bash pid=166847
info(io_exec): subcommand cgroup=/user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/app-ghostty-transient-166804.scope/surfaces/55C3313EC2D0.scope
info(io_handler): setting dynamic color pointer_foreground not implemented
info(io_handler): setting dynamic color highlight_background not implemented
info(io_handler): setting dynamic color highlight_foreground not implemented
info(io_handler): setting special colors not implemented
info(io_handler): setting special colors not implemented
warning(osc): invalid OSC command: 708;[95]#000000
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.color_change
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.secure_input
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.secure_input
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.secure_input
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.secure_input
warning(stream): unimplemented OSC callback: terminal.osc.Command{ .end_of_command = terminal.osc.Command__struct_253465{ .exit_code = 0 } }
warning(stream): unimplemented OSC command: end_of_command
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): unimplemented action=apprt.action.Action.Key.key_sequence
info(io_exec): pty fd closed, read thread exiting
info(surface): surface closed addr=55c3327c5350

Same command that fails in Ghostty, but not Alacritty:

$ sudo whoami
[sudo] password for indigo:
root

Hope this helps with debugging the issue.

[rhodes-b]

It doesn't nobody else has ever reported this issue, unless you can find a reproducible way to have this problem on multiple machines its a problem with your machine specifically and we cant really help you with that.

[giancanuz]

Actually I have the same issue. Quite similar env, I am on pure Arch.

[IndigoTeddy13]

Updated my Ghostty version and still have the same issue. New build info:

$ ghostty +version
Ghostty 1.2.3-arch2.1

Version
  - version: 1.2.3-arch2.1
  - channel: tip
Build Config
  - Zig version   : 0.14.1
  - build mode    : builtin.OptimizeMode.ReleaseFast
  - app runtime   : apprt.Runtime.gtk
  - font engine   : font.main.Backend.fontconfig_freetype
  - renderer      : renderer.generic.Renderer(renderer.OpenGL)
  - libxev        : io_uring
  - kernel version: 6.17.6-2-cachyos
  - desktop env   : other
  - GTK version   :
    build         : 4.20.2
    runtime       : 4.20.2
  - libadwaita    : enabled
    build         : 1.8.1
    runtime       : 1.8.1
  - libX11        : enabled
  - libwayland    : enabled