diff --git a/src/bin/psql/input.cpp b/src/bin/psql/input.cpp
index 5b804f32a9973bc85c78b08f29c688f37fdf31dd..0493ebb9fa22ca05c4eca45973e7b3fea65450e0 100644
--- a/src/bin/psql/input.cpp
+++ b/src/bin/psql/input.cpp
@@ -303,10 +303,10 @@ void setHistSize(const char* targetName, const char* targetValue, bool setToDefa
 void initializeInput(int flags)
 {
 #ifdef USE_READLINE
-    flags &= useReadline;
 
     if (flags & 1) {
         /* these two things must be done in this order: */
+	useReadline = true;
         initialize_readline();
         rl_variable_bind ("enable-meta-key", "off");
         rl_initialize();