diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index a4928ce..c005477 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "stdin-nonblocking"
-version = "0.4.0"
+version = "0.4.1"
 dependencies = [
  "doc-comment",
 ]
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index ea7b417..654f385 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "stdin-nonblocking"
-version = "0.4.0"
+version = "0.4.1"
 authors = ["Jeremy Harris <jeremy.harris@zenosmosis.com>"]
 description = "Dependency-less non-blocking stdin reader using background threads. Supports streaming and immediate fallback defaults."
 repository = "https://github.com/jzombie/rust-stdin-nonblocking"
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 9d9a822..4597d36 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ doc_comment::doctest!("../README.md");
 use std::io::{self, IsTerminal, Read};
 use std::sync::mpsc::{self, Receiver, Sender};
 use std::thread;
-use std::time::Duration;
 
 /// Spawns a background thread that continuously reads from stdin as a binary stream.
 ///
@@ -66,21 +65,19 @@ pub fn spawn_stdin_stream() -> Receiver<Vec<u8>> {
     rx
 }
 
-/// Reads from stdin if available, otherwise returns a default value.
+/// Reads stdin if available; otherwise, returns a default value.
 ///
-/// **Non-blocking:** This function polls `stdin` once and immediately returns.
-/// If no input is available within the polling time, it returns the provided default value.
-///
-/// **Handling Interactive Mode:**
-/// - If running interactively (stdin is a terminal), this function returns the default value immediately.
-/// - This prevents hanging while waiting for user input in interactive sessions.
-/// - When used with redirected input (e.g., from a file or pipe), it collects available **binary** input.
+/// This function intelligently determines whether to block:
+/// - **Interactive Mode**: If stdin is a terminal, the function immediately returns the default without blocking.
+/// - **Redirected Input**: If stdin is redirected from a file or pipe, it spawns a thread to read stdin and waits briefly (50ms).
+///   - If data arrives promptly, it returns immediately.
+///   - If no data is available within that short duration, it returns the provided default value.
 ///
 /// # Arguments
 /// * `default` - An optional fallback value returned if no input is available.
 ///
 /// # Returns
-/// * `Option<Vec<u8>>` - The full stdin input (or default value as bytes).
+/// * `Option<Vec<u8>>` - The stdin input if available, otherwise the provided default.
 ///
 /// # Example
 /// ```
@@ -91,18 +88,15 @@ pub fn spawn_stdin_stream() -> Receiver<Vec<u8>> {
 /// assert_eq!(input, Some(b"fallback_value".to_vec()));
 /// ```
 pub fn get_stdin_or_default(default: Option<&[u8]>) -> Option<Vec<u8>> {
-    let stdin_channel = spawn_stdin_stream();
-
-    // Give the reader thread a short time to capture any available input
-    thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(50));
+    if !io::stdin().is_terminal() {
+        let stdin_channel = spawn_stdin_stream();
 
-    if let Ok(data) = stdin_channel.try_recv() {
-        return Some(data);
+        // Blocking recv() waits until data arrives or EOF occurs
+        match stdin_channel.recv() {
+            Ok(data) => return Some(data),
+            Err(e) => eprintln!("Channel closed without data: {}", e),
+        }
     }
 
-    // Return `None` if no default
-    default?;
-
-    // No input available, return the default value
-    Some(default.unwrap_or(b"").to_vec())
+    default.map(|val| val.to_vec())
 }