diff --git a/tests/cluster/tests/helpers/onlydots.tcl b/tests/cluster/tests/helpers/onlydots.tcl
index 49040854a..4a6d1aee0 100644
--- a/tests/cluster/tests/helpers/onlydots.tcl
+++ b/tests/cluster/tests/helpers/onlydots.tcl
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ fconfigure stdin -buffering none
 
 while 1 {
     set c [read stdin 1]
-    if {$c eq {.}} {
+    if {$c eq {}} {
+        exit 0; # EOF
+    } elseif {$c eq {.}} {
         puts -nonewline .
         flush stdout
     }