diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index ba5270b2a..300cea63a 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 import inspect
 import io
 import os
-import select
 import signal
 import struct
 from functools import wraps
@@ -24,7 +23,8 @@ from .constants import (
 from .fast_data_types import (
     GL_ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA, GL_SRC_ALPHA, GLFW_CURSOR, GLFW_CURSOR_HIDDEN,
     GLFW_CURSOR_NORMAL, GLFW_MOUSE_BUTTON_1, GLFW_PRESS, GLFW_REPEAT,
-    drain_read, glBlendFunc, glfw_post_empty_event, glViewport, Timers as _Timers
+    ChildMonitor, Timers as _Timers, drain_read, glBlendFunc,
+    glfw_post_empty_event, glViewport
 )
 from .fonts.render import set_font_family
 from .keys import (
@@ -83,6 +83,33 @@ def callback(func):
     return f
 
 
+class DumpCommands:  # {{{
+
+    def __init__(self, args):
+        self.draw_dump_buf = []
+        if args.dump_bytes:
+            self.dump_bytes_to = open(args.dump_bytes, 'wb')
+
+    def __call__(self, *a):
+        if a:
+            if a[0] == 'draw':
+                if a[1] is None:
+                    if self.draw_dump_buf:
+                        safe_print('draw', ''.join(self.draw_dump_buf))
+                        self.draw_dump_buf = []
+                else:
+                    self.draw_dump_buf.append(a[1])
+            elif a[0] == 'bytes':
+                self.dump_bytes_to.write(a[1])
+                self.dump_bytes_to.flush()
+            else:
+                if self.draw_dump_buf:
+                    safe_print('draw', ''.join(self.draw_dump_buf))
+                    self.draw_dump_buf = []
+                safe_print(*a)
+# }}}
+
+
 class Boss(Thread):
 
     daemon = True
@@ -98,16 +125,15 @@ class Boss(Thread):
         self.pending_resize = False
         self.resize_gl_viewport = False
         self.shutting_down = False
-        self.screen_update_delay = opts.repaint_delay / 1000.0
         self.signal_fd = handle_unix_signals()
         self.read_wakeup_fd, self.write_wakeup_fd = pipe2()
-        self.read_dispatch_map = {
-            self.signal_fd: self.signal_received,
-            self.read_wakeup_fd: self.on_wakeup}
         self.timers = Timers()
         self.ui_timers = Timers()
+        self.child_monitor = ChildMonitor(
+            self.read_wakeup_fd, self.on_wakeup, self.signal_fd, self.signal_received, self.timers,
+            opts.repaint_delay / 1000.0,
+            DumpCommands(args) if args.dump_commands or args.dump_bytes else None)
         self.pending_ui_thread_calls = Queue()
-        self.write_dispatch_map = {}
         set_boss(self)
         self.current_font_size = opts.font_size
         cell_size.width, cell_size.height = set_font_family(opts)
@@ -171,15 +197,13 @@ class Boss(Thread):
                     import traceback
                     safe_print(traceback.format_exc())
 
-    def add_child_fd(self, child_fd, read_ready, write_ready):
+    def add_child_fd(self, child_fd, window):
         ' Must be called in child thread '
-        self.read_dispatch_map[child_fd] = read_ready
-        self.write_dispatch_map[child_fd] = write_ready
+        self.child_monitor.add_child(child_fd, window.screen, window.close, window.write_ready, window.update_screen)
 
     def remove_child_fd(self, child_fd):
         ' Must be called in child thread '
-        self.read_dispatch_map.pop(child_fd, None)
-        self.write_dispatch_map.pop(child_fd, None)
+        self.child_monitor.remove_child(child_fd)
 
     def queue_ui_action(self, func, *args):
         self.pending_ui_thread_calls.put((func, args))
@@ -209,21 +233,7 @@ class Boss(Thread):
                 self.queue_ui_action(self.gui_close_window, window)
 
     def run(self):
-        while not self.shutting_down:
-            all_readers = list(self.read_dispatch_map)
-            all_writers = [
-                w.child_fd for w in self.iterwindows() if w.write_buf]
-            readers, writers, _ = select.select(
-                all_readers, all_writers, [], self.timers.timeout())
-            for r in readers:
-                self.read_dispatch_map[r]()
-            for w in writers:
-                self.write_dispatch_map[w]()
-            self.timers.call()
-            for w in self.iterwindows():
-                if w.screen.is_dirty():
-                    self.timers.add_if_missing(
-                        self.screen_update_delay, w.update_screen)
+        self.child_monitor.loop()
 
     @callback
     def on_window_resize(self, window, w, h):
@@ -501,6 +511,7 @@ class Boss(Thread):
         signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal.SIG_DFL)
         signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, signal.SIG_DFL)
         self.shutting_down = True
+        self.child_monitor.shutdown()
         wakeup()
         self.join()
         for t in self.tab_manager:
diff --git a/kitty/child-monitor.c b/kitty/child-monitor.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..154693238
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kitty/child-monitor.c
@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+/*
+ * child-monitor.c
+ * Copyright (C) 2017 Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+ *
+ * Distributed under terms of the GPL3 license.
+ */
+
+#include "data-types.h"
+
+#define EXTRA_FDS 2
+
+static PyObject *
+new(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *args, PyObject UNUSED *kwds) {
+    ChildMonitor *self;
+    PyObject *wakeup_func, *signal_func, *dump_callback;
+    Timers *timers;
+    int wakeup_fd, signal_fd;
+    double delay;
+
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "iOiOOdO", &wakeup_fd, &wakeup_func, &signal_fd, &signal_func, &timers, &delay, &dump_callback)) return NULL; 
+    self = (ChildMonitor *)type->tp_alloc(type, 0);
+    if (self == NULL) return PyErr_NoMemory();
+    self->wakeup_func = wakeup_func; Py_INCREF(wakeup_func);
+    self->signal_func = signal_func; Py_INCREF(signal_func);
+    self->timers = timers; Py_INCREF(timers);
+    self->dump_callback = dump_callback; Py_INCREF(dump_callback);
+    self->count = 0; self->children = NULL;
+    self->fds = (struct pollfd*)PyMem_Calloc(EXTRA_FDS, sizeof(struct pollfd));
+    self->repaint_delay = delay;
+    if (self->fds == NULL) { Py_CLEAR(self); return PyErr_NoMemory(); }
+    self->fds[0].fd = wakeup_fd; self->fds[1].fd = signal_fd;
+    self->fds[0].events = POLLIN; self->fds[0].events = POLLIN;
+
+    return (PyObject*) self;
+}
+
+#define FREE_CHILD(x) \
+    Py_CLEAR((x).screen); Py_CLEAR((x).on_exit); Py_CLEAR((x).write_func); Py_CLEAR((x).update_screen);
+
+static void
+dealloc(ChildMonitor* self) {
+    Py_CLEAR(self->wakeup_func); Py_CLEAR(self->signal_func); Py_CLEAR(self->timers); Py_CLEAR(self->dump_callback);
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
+        FREE_CHILD(self->children[i]);
+    }
+    PyMem_Free(self->fds); PyMem_Free(self->children);
+    Py_TYPE(self)->tp_free((PyObject*)self);
+}
+
+#define COPY_CHILD(src, dest) \
+    dest.screen = src.screen; dest.on_exit = src.on_exit; dest.write_func = src.write_func; dest.needs_write = src.needs_write; dest.update_screen = src.update_screen
+
+#define COPY_POLL_FD(src, dest) \
+    dest.fd = src.fd; dest.events = src.events;
+
+static PyObject *
+add_child(ChildMonitor *self, PyObject *args) {
+#define add_child_doc "add_child(fd, screen, on_exit, write_func, update_screen) -> Add a child."
+    int fd;
+    PyObject *on_exit, *write_func, *update_screen;
+    Screen *screen;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "iOOOO", &fd, &screen, &on_exit, &write_func, &update_screen)) return NULL; 
+
+    Child *children = (Child*)PyMem_Calloc(self->count + 1, sizeof(Child));
+    struct pollfd *fds = (struct pollfd*)PyMem_Calloc(EXTRA_FDS + 1 + self->count, sizeof(struct pollfd));
+    if (children == NULL || fds == NULL) { PyMem_Free(children); PyMem_Free(fds); return PyErr_NoMemory();}
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
+        COPY_CHILD(self->children[i], children[i]);
+    }
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < self->count + EXTRA_FDS; i++) {
+        COPY_POLL_FD(self->fds[i], fds[i]);
+    }
+    fds[EXTRA_FDS + self->count].fd = fd;
+    fds[EXTRA_FDS + self->count].events = POLLIN;
+#define ADDATTR(x) children[self->count].x = x; Py_INCREF(x);
+    ADDATTR(screen); ADDATTR(on_exit); ADDATTR(write_func); ADDATTR(update_screen);
+    self->count++;
+    PyMem_Free(self->fds); PyMem_Free(self->children);
+    self->fds = fds; self->children = children;
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
+}
+ 
+static PyObject *
+remove_child(ChildMonitor *self, PyObject *pyfd) {
+#define remove_child_doc "remove_child(fd) -> Remove a child."
+    size_t i; bool found = false;
+    int fd = (int)PyLong_AsLong(pyfd);
+    for (i = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
+        if (self->fds[EXTRA_FDS + i].fd == fd) { found = true; break; }
+    }
+    if (!found) { Py_RETURN_FALSE; }
+    Child *children = self->count > 1 ? (Child*)PyMem_Calloc(self->count - 1, sizeof(Child)) : NULL;
+    struct pollfd *fds = (struct pollfd*)PyMem_Calloc(EXTRA_FDS + self->count - 1, sizeof(struct pollfd));
+    if ((self->count > 1 && children == NULL) || fds == NULL) { PyMem_Free(children); PyMem_Free(fds); return PyErr_NoMemory();}
+    for (size_t s = 0, d = 0; s < self->count; s++) {
+        if (s != i) {
+            COPY_CHILD(self->children[s], children[d]);
+            COPY_POLL_FD(self->fds[s + EXTRA_FDS], fds[d + EXTRA_FDS]);
+            d++;
+        } else {
+            FREE_CHILD(self->children[s]);            
+        }
+    }
+    for (i = 0; i < EXTRA_FDS; i++) {
+        COPY_POLL_FD(self->fds[i], fds[i]);
+    }
+    self->count--;
+    PyMem_Free(self->fds); PyMem_Free(self->children);
+    self->fds = fds; self->children = children;
+    Py_RETURN_TRUE;
+}
+
+static PyObject *
+needs_write(ChildMonitor *self, PyObject *args) {
+#define needs_write_doc "needs_write(fd, yesno) -> Mark a child as needing write or not."
+    int fd, yesno;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ip", &fd, &yesno)) return NULL; 
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
+        if (self->fds[EXTRA_FDS + i].fd == fd) { 
+            self->children[i].needs_write = (bool)yesno;
+            Py_RETURN_TRUE;
+        }
+    }
+    Py_RETURN_FALSE;
+}
+
+static PyObject *
+loop(ChildMonitor *self) {
+#define loop_doc "loop() -> The monitor loop."
+    size_t i;
+    int ret, timeout;
+    bool has_more; 
+    PyObject *t;
+    while (LIKELY(!self->shutting_down)) {
+        for (i = 0; i < self->count + EXTRA_FDS; i++) self->fds[i].revents = 0;
+        for (i = EXTRA_FDS; i < EXTRA_FDS + self->count; i++) self->fds[i].events = self->children[i - EXTRA_FDS].needs_write ? POLLOUT  | POLLIN : POLLIN;
+        timeout = (int)(timers_timeout(self->timers) * 1000);
+        Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS;
+        ret = poll(self->fds, self->count + EXTRA_FDS, timeout);
+        Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS;
+        if (ret > 0) {
+#define PYCALL(x) t = PyObject_CallObject(x, NULL); if (t == NULL) PyErr_Print(); else Py_DECREF(t);
+            if (self->fds[0].revents && POLLIN) { PYCALL(self->wakeup_func); }
+            if (self->fds[1].revents && POLLIN) { PYCALL(self->signal_func); }
+            for (i = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
+                if (self->fds[EXTRA_FDS + i].revents & (POLLIN | POLLHUP)) {
+                    if (LIKELY(self->dump_callback == Py_None)) has_more = read_bytes(self->fds[EXTRA_FDS + i].fd, self->children[i].screen, NULL);
+                    else has_more = read_bytes(self->fds[EXTRA_FDS + i].fd, self->children[i].screen, self->dump_callback);
+                    if (!has_more) { PYCALL(self->children[i].on_exit); }
+                }
+                if (self->fds[EXTRA_FDS + i].revents & POLLOUT) {
+                    PYCALL(self->children[i].write_func);
+                }
+            }
+        } else if (ret < 0) {
+            if (errno != EAGAIN && errno != EINTR) {
+                perror("Call to poll() failed");
+            }
+            continue;
+        }
+        timers_call(self->timers);
+        for (i = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
+            if (self->children[i].screen->change_tracker->dirty) {
+                if (!timers_add_if_missing(self->timers, self->repaint_delay, self->children->update_screen, NULL)) PyErr_Print();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
+}
+
+
+static PyObject *
+shutdown(ChildMonitor *self) {
+#define shutdown_doc "shutdown() -> Shutdown the monitor loop."
+    self->shutting_down = true;
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
+}
+
+// Boilerplate {{{
+static PyMethodDef methods[] = {
+    METHOD(add_child, METH_VARARGS)
+    METHOD(remove_child, METH_O)
+    METHOD(needs_write, METH_VARARGS)
+    METHOD(loop, METH_NOARGS)
+    METHOD(shutdown, METH_NOARGS)
+    {NULL}  /* Sentinel */
+};
+
+
+PyTypeObject ChildMonitor_Type = {
+    PyVarObject_HEAD_INIT(NULL, 0)
+    .tp_name = "fast_data_types.ChildMonitor",
+    .tp_basicsize = sizeof(ChildMonitor),
+    .tp_dealloc = (destructor)dealloc, 
+    .tp_flags = Py_TPFLAGS_DEFAULT,        
+    .tp_doc = "ChildMonitor",
+    .tp_methods = methods,
+    .tp_new = new,                
+};
+
+
+INIT_TYPE(ChildMonitor)
+// }}}
+
diff --git a/kitty/data-types.c b/kitty/data-types.c
index bdaab92e1..98c29da80 100644
--- a/kitty/data-types.c
+++ b/kitty/data-types.c
@@ -69,8 +69,6 @@ static PyMethodDef module_methods[] = {
     {"drain_read", (PyCFunction)drain_read, METH_O, ""},
     {"parse_bytes", (PyCFunction)parse_bytes, METH_VARARGS, ""},
     {"parse_bytes_dump", (PyCFunction)parse_bytes_dump, METH_VARARGS, ""},
-    {"read_bytes", (PyCFunction)read_bytes, METH_VARARGS, ""},
-    {"read_bytes_dump", (PyCFunction)read_bytes_dump, METH_VARARGS, ""},
     {"redirect_std_streams", (PyCFunction)redirect_std_streams, METH_VARARGS, ""},
     {"wcwidth", (PyCFunction)wcwidth_wrap, METH_O, ""},
     {"change_wcwidth", (PyCFunction)change_wcwidth_wrap, METH_O, ""},
@@ -111,6 +109,7 @@ PyInit_fast_data_types(void) {
         if (!init_Line(m)) return NULL;
         if (!init_Cursor(m)) return NULL;
         if (!init_Timers(m)) return NULL;
+        if (!init_ChildMonitor(m)) return NULL;
         if (!init_ColorProfile(m)) return NULL;
         if (!init_SpriteMap(m)) return NULL;
         if (!init_ChangeTracker(m)) return NULL;
diff --git a/kitty/data-types.h b/kitty/data-types.h
index b179c13f8..8c0a10c7e 100644
--- a/kitty/data-types.h
+++ b/kitty/data-types.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
+#include <poll.h>
 #define PY_SSIZE_T_CLEAN
 #include <Python.h>
 #define UNUSED __attribute__ ((unused))
@@ -318,6 +319,26 @@ typedef struct {
 } Timers;
 PyTypeObject Timers_Type;
 
+typedef struct {
+    Screen *screen;
+    PyObject *on_exit, *write_func, *update_screen;
+    bool needs_write;
+} Child;
+
+typedef struct {
+    PyObject_HEAD
+
+    PyObject *wakeup_func, *signal_func, *dump_callback;
+    Timers *timers;
+    int wakeup_fd, singal_fd;
+    struct pollfd *fds;
+    Child *children;
+    size_t count;
+    bool shutting_down;
+    double repaint_delay;
+} ChildMonitor;
+PyTypeObject ChildMonitor_Type;
+
 #define left_shift_line(line, at, num) \
     for(index_type __i__ = (at); __i__ < (line)->xnum - (num); __i__++) { \
         COPY_CELL(line, __i__ + (num), line, __i__) \
@@ -335,6 +356,7 @@ int init_LineBuf(PyObject *);
 int init_HistoryBuf(PyObject *);
 int init_Cursor(PyObject *);
 int init_Timers(PyObject *);
+int init_ChildMonitor(PyObject *);
 int init_Line(PyObject *);
 int init_ColorProfile(PyObject *);
 int init_SpriteMap(PyObject *);
@@ -343,8 +365,8 @@ int init_Screen(PyObject *);
 int init_Face(PyObject *);
 int init_Window(PyObject *);
 PyObject* create_256_color_table();
-PyObject* read_bytes_dump(PyObject UNUSED *, PyObject *);
-PyObject* read_bytes(PyObject UNUSED *, PyObject *);
+bool read_bytes(int fd, Screen *screen, PyObject *dump_callback);
+bool read_bytes_dump(int fd, Screen *screen, PyObject *dump_callback);
 PyObject* parse_bytes_dump(PyObject UNUSED *, PyObject *);
 PyObject* parse_bytes(PyObject UNUSED *, PyObject *);
 uint32_t decode_utf8(uint32_t*, uint32_t*, uint8_t byte);
@@ -379,6 +401,10 @@ void historybuf_add_line(HistoryBuf *self, const Line *line);
 void historybuf_rewrap(HistoryBuf *self, HistoryBuf *other);
 void historybuf_init_line(HistoryBuf *self, index_type num, Line *l);
 
+double timers_timeout(Timers*);
+void timers_call(Timers*);
+bool timers_add_if_missing(Timers *self, double delay, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args);
+
 unsigned int safe_wcwidth(uint32_t ch);
 void change_wcwidth(bool use9);
 void screen_align(Screen*);
diff --git a/kitty/parser.c b/kitty/parser.c
index 45bfdbd8d..d2a1c783a 100644
--- a/kitty/parser.c
+++ b/kitty/parser.c
@@ -745,17 +745,9 @@ FNAME(parse_bytes)(PyObject UNUSED *self, PyObject *args) {
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }
 
-PyObject*
-FNAME(read_bytes)(PyObject UNUSED *self, PyObject *args) {
-    PyObject *dump_callback = NULL;
+bool
+FNAME(read_bytes)(int fd, Screen *screen, PyObject *dump_callback) {
     Py_ssize_t len;
-    Screen *screen;
-    int fd;
-#ifdef DUMP_COMMANDS
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "OOi", &dump_callback, &screen, &fd)) return NULL;
-#else
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Oi", &screen, &fd)) return NULL;
-#endif
 
     while(true) {
         Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS;
@@ -763,20 +755,18 @@ FNAME(read_bytes)(PyObject UNUSED *self, PyObject *args) {
         Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS;
         if (len == -1) {
             if (errno == EINTR) continue;
-            if (errno == EIO) { Py_RETURN_FALSE; }
-            return PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_OSError);
+            if (errno != EIO) perror("Call to read() from child fd failed");
+            return false;
         }
         /* PyObject_Print(Py_BuildValue("y#", screen->read_buf, len), stderr, 0); */
         break;
     }
+    if (UNLIKELY(len == 0)) return false;
 #ifdef DUMP_COMMANDS
-    if (len > 0) {
-        Py_XDECREF(PyObject_CallFunction(dump_callback, "sy#", "bytes", screen->read_buf, len)); PyErr_Clear();
-    }
+    Py_XDECREF(PyObject_CallFunction(dump_callback, "sy#", "bytes", screen->read_buf, len)); PyErr_Clear();
 #endif
     _parse_bytes(screen, screen->read_buf, len, dump_callback);
-    if(len > 0) { Py_RETURN_TRUE; }
-    Py_RETURN_FALSE;
+    return true;
 }
 #undef FNAME
 // }}}
diff --git a/kitty/tabs.py b/kitty/tabs.py
index fd0cb6016..802ed259a 100644
--- a/kitty/tabs.py
+++ b/kitty/tabs.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class Tab:
         window = Window(self, child, self.opts, self.args)
         if override_title is not None:
             window.title = window.override_title = override_title
-        get_boss().add_child_fd(child.child_fd, window.read_ready, window.write_ready)
+        get_boss().add_child_fd(child.child_fd, window)
         self.active_window_idx = self.current_layout.add_window(self.windows, window, self.active_window_idx)
         self.relayout_borders()
         glfw_post_empty_event()
diff --git a/kitty/timers.c b/kitty/timers.c
index 9b4369ca4..5e32d8f65 100644
--- a/kitty/timers.c
+++ b/kitty/timers.c
@@ -80,18 +80,18 @@ compare_events(const void *a, const void *b) {
 }
 
 
-static inline PyObject*
+static inline bool
 _add(Timers *self, double at, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args) {
     size_t i; 
     if (self->count >= self->capacity) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "Too many timers");
-        return NULL;
+        return false;
     }
     i = self->count++;
     self->events[i].at = at; self->events[i].callback = callback; self->events[i].args = args;
     Py_INCREF(callback); Py_XINCREF(args);
     qsort(self->events, self->count, sizeof(TimerEvent), compare_events);
-    Py_RETURN_NONE;
+    return true;
 }
 
 
@@ -115,25 +115,31 @@ add(Timers *self, PyObject *fargs) {
         }
     }
 
-    return _add(self, at, callback, args);
+    if (!_add(self, at, callback, args)) return NULL;
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }
 
+
+bool
+timers_add_if_missing(Timers *self, double delay, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args) {
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
+        if (self->events[i].callback == callback) {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+    return _add(self, monotonic() + delay, callback, args); 
+}
+
+
 static PyObject *
 add_if_missing(Timers *self, PyObject *fargs) {
 #define add_if_missing_doc "add_if_missing(delay, callback, args) -> Add callback, unless it already exists"
-    size_t i;
     PyObject *callback, *args = NULL;
-    double delay, at;
+    double delay;
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(fargs, "dO|O", &delay, &callback, &args)) return NULL; 
 
-    for (i = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
-        if (self->events[i].callback == callback) {
-            Py_RETURN_NONE;
-        }
-    }
-    at = monotonic() + delay;
-
-    return _add(self, at, callback, args);
+    if (!timers_add_if_missing(self, delay, callback, args)) return NULL;
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -154,6 +160,12 @@ remove_event(Timers *self, PyObject *callback) {
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }
 
+double 
+timers_timeout(Timers *self) {
+    double ans = self->events[0].at - monotonic();
+    return MAX(0, ans);
+}
+
 static PyObject *
 timeout(Timers *self) {
 #define timeout_doc "timeout() -> The time in seconds until the next event"
@@ -162,10 +174,9 @@ timeout(Timers *self) {
     return PyFloat_FromDouble(MAX(0, ans));
 }
 
-static PyObject *
-call(Timers *self) {
-#define call_doc "call() -> Dispatch all expired events"
-    if (self->count < 1) { Py_RETURN_NONE; }
+void
+timers_call(Timers *self) {
+    if (self->count < 1) return;
     TimerEvent *other = self->events == self->buf1 ? self->buf2 : self->buf1;
     double now = monotonic();
     size_t i, j;
@@ -182,6 +193,12 @@ call(Timers *self) {
     }
     self->events = other;
     self->count = j;
+}
+
+static PyObject *
+call(Timers *self) {
+#define call_doc "call() -> Dispatch all expired events"
+    timers_call(self);
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }
 
diff --git a/kitty/window.py b/kitty/window.py
index 15326c07f..5865b8018 100644
--- a/kitty/window.py
+++ b/kitty/window.py
@@ -5,22 +5,24 @@
 import os
 import weakref
 from collections import deque
-from functools import partial
 from time import monotonic
 
 from .char_grid import CharGrid, DynamicColor
-from .constants import wakeup, get_boss, appname, WindowGeometry, is_key_pressed, mouse_button_pressed, cell_size
+from .constants import (
+    WindowGeometry, appname, cell_size, get_boss, is_key_pressed,
+    mouse_button_pressed, wakeup
+)
 from .fast_data_types import (
-    BRACKETED_PASTE_START, BRACKETED_PASTE_END, Screen, read_bytes_dump,
-    read_bytes, GLFW_MOD_SHIFT, GLFW_MOUSE_BUTTON_1, GLFW_PRESS,
-    GLFW_MOUSE_BUTTON_MIDDLE, GLFW_RELEASE, glfw_post_empty_event,
-    GLFW_MOUSE_BUTTON_5, ANY_MODE, MOTION_MODE, GLFW_KEY_LEFT_SHIFT,
-    GLFW_KEY_RIGHT_SHIFT, GLFW_KEY_UP, GLFW_KEY_DOWN, GLFW_MOUSE_BUTTON_4
+    ANY_MODE, BRACKETED_PASTE_END, BRACKETED_PASTE_START, GLFW_KEY_DOWN,
+    GLFW_KEY_LEFT_SHIFT, GLFW_KEY_RIGHT_SHIFT, GLFW_KEY_UP, GLFW_MOD_SHIFT,
+    GLFW_MOUSE_BUTTON_1, GLFW_MOUSE_BUTTON_4, GLFW_MOUSE_BUTTON_5,
+    GLFW_MOUSE_BUTTON_MIDDLE, GLFW_PRESS, GLFW_RELEASE, MOTION_MODE, Screen,
+    glfw_post_empty_event
 )
 from .keys import get_key_map
-from .mouse import encode_mouse_event, PRESS, RELEASE, MOVE, DRAG
+from .mouse import DRAG, MOVE, PRESS, RELEASE, encode_mouse_event
 from .terminfo import get_capabilities
-from .utils import sanitize_title, get_primary_selection, parse_color_set, safe_print
+from .utils import get_primary_selection, parse_color_set, sanitize_title
 
 DYNAMIC_COLOR_CODES = {
     10: DynamicColor.default_fg,
@@ -30,13 +32,11 @@ DYNAMIC_COLOR_CODES = {
     19: DynamicColor.highlight_fg,
 }
 DYNAMIC_COLOR_CODES.update({k+100: v for k, v in DYNAMIC_COLOR_CODES.items()})
-dump_bytes_opened = False
 
 
 class Window:
 
     def __init__(self, tab, child, opts, args):
-        global dump_bytes_opened
         self.tabref = weakref.ref(tab)
         self.override_title = None
         self.last_mouse_cursor_pos = 0, 0
@@ -50,12 +50,6 @@ class Window:
         self.child_fd = child.child_fd
         self.start_visual_bell_at = None
         self.screen = Screen(self, 24, 80, opts.scrollback_lines)
-        self.read_bytes = partial(read_bytes_dump, self.dump_commands) if args.dump_commands or args.dump_bytes else read_bytes
-        if args.dump_bytes:
-            mode = 'ab' if dump_bytes_opened else 'wb'
-            self.dump_bytes_to = open(args.dump_bytes, mode)
-            dump_bytes_opened = True
-        self.draw_dump_buf = []
         self.write_buf = memoryview(b'')
         self.char_grid = CharGrid(self.screen, opts)
 
@@ -104,10 +98,6 @@ class Window:
         # existing buffers in char_grid. The rest of the cleanup must be
         # performed in the GUI thread.
 
-    def read_ready(self):
-        if self.read_bytes(self.screen, self.child_fd) is False:
-            self.close()  # EOF
-
     def write_ready(self):
         while self.write_buf:
             try:
@@ -117,10 +107,14 @@ class Window:
             if not n:
                 return
             self.write_buf = self.write_buf[n:]
+        if not self.write_buf:
+            get_boss().child_monitor.needs_write(self.child_fd, False)
 
     def write_to_child(self, data):
-        self.write_buf = memoryview(self.write_buf.tobytes() + data)
-        wakeup()
+        if data:
+            self.write_buf = memoryview(self.write_buf.tobytes() + data)
+            get_boss().child_monitor.needs_write(self.child_fd, True)
+            wakeup()
 
     def bell(self):
         if self.opts.enable_audio_bell:
@@ -356,22 +350,3 @@ class Window:
             self.char_grid.scroll('full', False)
             glfw_post_empty_event()
     # }}}
-
-    def dump_commands(self, *a):  # {{{
-        if a:
-            if a[0] == 'draw':
-                if a[1] is None:
-                    if self.draw_dump_buf:
-                        safe_print('draw', ''.join(self.draw_dump_buf))
-                        self.draw_dump_buf = []
-                else:
-                    self.draw_dump_buf.append(a[1])
-            elif a[0] == 'bytes':
-                self.dump_bytes_to.write(a[1])
-                self.dump_bytes_to.flush()
-            else:
-                if self.draw_dump_buf:
-                    safe_print('draw', ''.join(self.draw_dump_buf))
-                    self.draw_dump_buf = []
-                safe_print(*a)
-    # }}}