diff --git a/pyrepl/unix_console.py b/pyrepl/unix_console.py
index 281c200..afd107d 100644
--- a/pyrepl/unix_console.py
+++ b/pyrepl/unix_console.py
@@ -354,7 +354,11 @@ def move_cursor(self, x, y):
 
     def prepare(self):
         # per-readline preparations:
-        self.__svtermstate = tcgetattr(self.input_fd)
+        try:
+            self.__svtermstate = tcgetattr(self.input_fd)
+        except termios.error as exc:
+            raise EOFError("could not prepare fd %d: %s" % (self.input_fd, exc))
+        self._prepared = True
         raw = self.__svtermstate.copy()
         raw.iflag |= termios.ICRNL
         raw.iflag &= ~(termios.BRKINT | termios.INPCK |
@@ -386,6 +390,9 @@ def prepare(self):
             pass
 
     def restore(self):
+        if not hasattr(self, '_prepared'):
+            return
+        del self._prepared
         self.__maybe_write_code(self._rmkx)
         self.flushoutput()
         tcsetattr(self.input_fd, termios.TCSADRAIN, self.__svtermstate)
diff --git a/testing/test_unix_console.py b/testing/test_unix_console.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51bf874
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/test_unix_console.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import pytest
+
+
+def test_eoferror():
+    from pyrepl.unix_console import UnixConsole
+
+    console = UnixConsole(f_in=99)
+    with pytest.raises(
+        EOFError,
+        match="^could not prepare fd 99: .*Bad file descriptor"
+    ):
+        console.prepare()