diff --git a/pyrevolve/tools.py b/pyrevolve/tools.py
index b844794..950b5bf 100644
--- a/pyrevolve/tools.py
+++ b/pyrevolve/tools.py
@@ -48,12 +48,10 @@ def stop(self):
         """
         Stop capturing the stream data and save the text in `capturedtext`.
         """
-
         # Print the escape character to make the readOutput method stop:
-        self.origstream.write(self.escape_char)
+        os.write(self.pipe_in, self.escape_char.encode())
         # Flush the stream to make sure all our data goes in before
         # the escape character:
-        self.origstream.flush()
         if self.threaded:
             # wait until the thread finishes so we are sure that
             # we have until the last character:
@@ -74,7 +72,7 @@ def readOutput(self):
         and save the text in `capturedtext`.
         """
         while True:
-            char = os.read(self.pipe_out, 1).decode(self.origstream.encoding)
+            char = os.read(self.pipe_out, 1).decode()
             if not char or self.escape_char in char:
                 break
             self.capturedtext += char