diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index f3431c181..5522ae4b7 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -110,6 +110,27 @@ def print_(*strings):
         txt = txt.encode(_encoding(), 'replace')
     print(txt)
 
+def input_(prompt=None):
+    """Like `raw_input`, but decodes the result to a Unicode string.
+    Raises a UserError if stdin is not available. The prompt is sent to
+    stdout rather than stderr. A printed between the prompt and the
+    input cursor.
+    """
+    # raw_input incorrectly sends prompts to stderr, not stdout, so we
+    # use print() explicitly to display prompts.
+    # http://bugs.python.org/issue1927
+    if prompt:
+        if isinstance(prompt, unicode):
+            prompt = prompt.encode(_encoding(), 'replace')
+        print(prompt, end=' ')
+
+    try:
+        resp = raw_input()
+    except EOFError:
+        raise UserError('stdin stream ended while input required')
+
+    return resp.decode(sys.stdin.encoding, 'ignore')
+
 def input_options(options, require=False, prompt=None, fallback_prompt=None,
                   numrange=None, default=None, color=False, max_width=72):
     """Prompts a user for input. The sequence of `options` defines the
@@ -241,11 +262,7 @@ def input_options(options, require=False, prompt=None, fallback_prompt=None,
             fallback_prompt += '%i-%i, ' % numrange
         fallback_prompt += ', '.join(display_letters) + ':'
 
-    # raw_input incorrectly sends prompts to stderr, not stdout, so we
-    # use print() explicitly to display prompts.
-    # http://bugs.python.org/issue1927
-    print(prompt, end=' ')
-    resp = raw_input()
+    resp = input_(prompt)
     while True:
         resp = resp.strip().lower()
 
@@ -273,8 +290,7 @@ def input_options(options, require=False, prompt=None, fallback_prompt=None,
                 return resp
 
         # Prompt for new input.
-        print(fallback_prompt, end=' ')
-        resp = raw_input()
+        resp = input_(fallback_prompt)
 
 def input_yn(prompt, require=False, color=False):
     """Prompts the user for a "yes" or "no" response. The default is
diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index 3146275a8..4b1c108a3 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import itertools
 import re
 
 from beets import ui
-from beets.ui import print_, decargs
+from beets.ui import print_, input_, decargs
 from beets import autotag
 import beets.autotag.art
 from beets import plugins
@@ -474,18 +474,17 @@ def manual_search(singleton):
     """Input either an artist and album (for full albums) or artist and
     track name (for singletons) for manual search.
     """
-    artist = raw_input('Artist: ').decode(sys.stdin.encoding)
-    name = raw_input('Track: ' if singleton else 'Album: ') \
-           .decode(sys.stdin.encoding)
+    artist = input_('Artist:')
+    name = input_('Track:' if singleton else 'Album:')
     return artist.strip(), name.strip()
 
 def manual_id(singleton):
     """Input a MusicBrainz ID, either for an album ("release") or a
     track ("recording"). If no valid ID is entered, returns None.
     """
-    prompt = 'Enter MusicBrainz %s ID: ' % \
+    prompt = 'Enter MusicBrainz %s ID:' % \
              ('recording' if singleton else 'release')
-    entry = raw_input(prompt).decode(sys.stdin.encoding).strip()
+    entry = input_(prompt).strip()
 
     # Find the first thing that looks like a UUID/MBID.
     match = re.search('[a-f0-9]{8}(-[a-f0-9]{4}){3}-[a-f0-9]{12}', entry)
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 42f0052bb..fa48d7422 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ Changelog
   Mecucci).
 * Fix an assertion failure while importing with moving enabled when the file was
   already at its destination.
+* Use a nicer error message when input requested but stdin is closed.
 
 .. _artist credits: http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/Artist_Credit