diff --git a/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/coderunner.py b/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/coderunner.py
index cddf1169..022a03c0 100644
--- a/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/coderunner.py
+++ b/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/coderunner.py
@@ -1,17 +1,14 @@
 """For running Python code that could interrupt itself at any time in order to,
 for example, ask for a read on stdin, or a write on stdout
 
-The CodeRunner spawns a greenlet to run code in, and that code can suspend its
-own execution to ask the main greenlet to refresh the display or get
+The CodeRunner spawns a thread to run code in, and that code can block
+on a queue to ask the main (UI) thread to refresh the display or get
 information.
-
-Greenlets are basically threads that can explicitly switch control to each
-other.  You can replace the word "greenlet" with "thread" in these docs if that
-makes more sense to you.
 """
 
 import code
-import greenlet
+from six.moves import queue
+import threading
 import logging
 import signal
 
@@ -21,12 +18,12 @@
 
 
 class SigintHappened:
-    """If this class is returned, a SIGINT happened while the main greenlet"""
+    """If this class is returned, a SIGINT happened while the main thread"""
 
 
 class SystemExitFromCodeRunner(SystemExit):
     """If this class is returned, a SystemExit happened while in the code
-    greenlet"""
+    thread"""
 
 
 class RequestFromCodeRunner:
@@ -60,13 +57,14 @@ class CodeRunner:
     """Runs user code in an interpreter.
 
     Running code requests a refresh by calling
-    request_from_main_context(force_refresh=True), which
-    suspends execution of the code and switches back to the main greenlet
+    request_from_main_thread(force_refresh=True), which
+    suspends execution of the code by blocking on a queue
+    that the main thread was blocked on.
 
     After load_code() is called with the source code to be run,
     the run_code() method should be called to start running the code.
     The running code may request screen refreshes and user input
-    by calling request_from_main_context.
+    by calling request_from_main_thread.
     When this are called, the running source code cedes
     control, and the current run_code() method call returns.
 
@@ -77,10 +75,10 @@ class CodeRunner:
     has been gathered, run_code() should be called again, passing in any
     requested user input. This continues until run_code returns Done.
 
-    The code greenlet is responsible for telling the main greenlet
+    The code thread is responsible for telling the main thread
     what it wants returned in the next run_code call - CodeRunner
     just passes whatever is passed in to run_code(for_code) to the
-    code greenlet
+    code thread.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, interp=None, request_refresh=lambda: None):
@@ -93,20 +91,20 @@ def __init__(self, interp=None, request_refresh=lambda: None):
         """
         self.interp = interp or code.InteractiveInterpreter()
         self.source = None
-        self.main_context = greenlet.getcurrent()
-        self.code_context = None
+        self.code_thread = None
+        self.requests_from_code_thread = queue.Queue(maxsize=0)
+        self.responses_for_code_thread = queue.Queue()
         self.request_refresh = request_refresh
         # waiting for response from main thread
         self.code_is_waiting = False
         # sigint happened while in main thread
-        self.sigint_happened_in_main_context = False
+        self.sigint_happened_in_main_thread = False  # TODO rename context to thread
         self.orig_sigint_handler = None
 
     @property
     def running(self):
-        """Returns greenlet if code has been loaded greenlet has been
-        started"""
-        return self.source and self.code_context
+        """Returns the running thread if code has been loaded and started."""
+        return self.source and self.code_thread
 
     def load_code(self, source):
         """Prep code to be run"""
@@ -114,43 +112,47 @@ def load_code(self, source):
             "you shouldn't load code when some is " "already running"
         )
         self.source = source
-        self.code_context = None
+        self.code_thread = None
 
     def _unload_code(self):
         """Called when done running code"""
         self.source = None
-        self.code_context = None
+        self.code_thread = None
         self.code_is_waiting = False
 
     def run_code(self, for_code=None):
         """Returns Truthy values if code finishes, False otherwise
 
-        if for_code is provided, send that value to the code greenlet
+        if for_code is provided, send that value to the code thread
         if source code is complete, returns "done"
         if source code is incomplete, returns "unfinished"
         """
-        if self.code_context is None:
+        if self.code_thread is None:
             assert self.source is not None
-            self.code_context = greenlet.greenlet(self._blocking_run_code)
+            self.code_thread = threading.Thread(
+                target=self._blocking_run_code,
+                name='codethread')
+            self.code_thread.daemon = True
             if is_main_thread():
                 self.orig_sigint_handler = signal.getsignal(signal.SIGINT)
                 signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, self.sigint_handler)
-            request = self.code_context.switch()
+            self.code_thread.start()
         else:
             assert self.code_is_waiting
             self.code_is_waiting = False
             if is_main_thread():
                 signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, self.sigint_handler)
-            if self.sigint_happened_in_main_context:
-                self.sigint_happened_in_main_context = False
-                request = self.code_context.switch(SigintHappened)
+            if self.sigint_happened_in_main_thread:
+                self.sigint_happened_in_main_thread = False
+                self.responses_for_code_thread.put(SigintHappened)
             else:
-                request = self.code_context.switch(for_code)
+                self.responses_for_code_thread.put(for_code)
 
+        request = self.requests_from_code_thread.get()
         logger.debug("request received from code was %r", request)
         if not isinstance(request, RequestFromCodeRunner):
             raise ValueError(
-                "Not a valid value from code greenlet: %r" % request
+                "Not a valid value from code thread: %r" % request
             )
         if isinstance(request, (Wait, Refresh)):
             self.code_is_waiting = True
@@ -170,7 +172,7 @@ def run_code(self, for_code=None):
     def sigint_handler(self, *args):
         """SIGINT handler to use while code is running or request being
         fulfilled"""
-        if greenlet.getcurrent() is self.code_context:
+        if threading.current_thread() is self.code_thread:
             logger.debug("sigint while running user code!")
             raise KeyboardInterrupt()
         else:
@@ -178,24 +180,29 @@ def sigint_handler(self, *args):
                 "sigint while fulfilling code request sigint handler "
                 "running!"
             )
-            self.sigint_happened_in_main_context = True
+            self.sigint_happened_in_main_thread = True
 
     def _blocking_run_code(self):
         try:
             unfinished = self.interp.runsource(self.source)
         except SystemExit as e:
-            return SystemExitRequest(*e.args)
-        return Unfinished() if unfinished else Done()
+            self.requests_from_code_thread.push(SystemExitRequest(*e.args))
+            return
+        self.requests_from_code_thread.put(Unfinished()
+                                           if unfinished
+                                           else Done())
 
-    def request_from_main_context(self, force_refresh=False):
+    def request_from_main_thread(self, force_refresh=False):
         """Return the argument passed in to .run_code(for_code)
 
         Nothing means calls to run_code must be... ???
         """
         if force_refresh:
-            value = self.main_context.switch(Refresh())
+            self.requests_from_code_thread.put(Refresh())
+            value = self.responses_for_code_thread.get()
         else:
-            value = self.main_context.switch(Wait())
+            self.requests_from_code_thread.put(Wait())
+            value = self.responses_for_code_thread.get()
         if value is SigintHappened:
             raise KeyboardInterrupt()
         return value
@@ -216,7 +223,7 @@ def __init__(self, coderunner, on_write, real_fileobj):
 
     def write(self, s, *args, **kwargs):
         self.on_write(s, *args, **kwargs)
-        return self.coderunner.request_from_main_context(force_refresh=True)
+        return self.coderunner.request_from_main_thread(force_refresh=True)
 
     # Some applications which use curses require that sys.stdout
     # have a method called fileno. One example is pwntools. This
diff --git a/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/interaction.py b/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/interaction.py
index 51fd28d3..ebed9f31 100644
--- a/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/interaction.py
+++ b/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/interaction.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import greenlet
 import time
+from queue import Queue
 from curtsies import events
 
 from ..translations import _
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ def __init__(
         self.permanent_stack = []
         if permanent_text:
             self.permanent_stack.append(permanent_text)
-        self.main_context = greenlet.getcurrent()
-        self.request_context = None
+        self.response_queue = Queue()
+        self.request_or_notify_queue = Queue()
         self.request_refresh = request_refresh
         self.schedule_refresh = schedule_refresh
 
@@ -83,13 +83,14 @@ def process_event(self, e):
         assert self.in_prompt or self.in_confirm or self.waiting_for_refresh
         if isinstance(e, RefreshRequestEvent):
             self.waiting_for_refresh = False
-            self.request_context.switch()
+            self.request_or_notify_queue.put(None)
+            self.response_queue.get()
         elif isinstance(e, events.PasteEvent):
             for ee in e.events:
                 # strip control seq
                 self.add_normal_character(ee if len(ee) == 1 else ee[-1])
         elif e == "<ESC>" or isinstance(e, events.SigIntEvent):
-            self.request_context.switch(False)
+            self.request_queue.put(False)
             self.escape()
         elif e in edit_keys:
             self.cursor_offset_in_line, self._current_line = edit_keys[e](
@@ -102,12 +103,12 @@ def process_event(self, e):
         elif self.in_prompt and e in ("\n", "\r", "<Ctrl-j>", "Ctrl-m>"):
             line = self._current_line
             self.escape()
-            self.request_context.switch(line)
+            self.response_queue.put(line)
         elif self.in_confirm:
             if e.lower() == _("y"):
-                self.request_context.switch(True)
+                self.request_queue.put(True)
             else:
-                self.request_context.switch(False)
+                self.request_queue.put(False)
             self.escape()
         else:  # add normal character
             self.add_normal_character(e)
@@ -126,6 +127,7 @@ def add_normal_character(self, e):
 
     def escape(self):
         """unfocus from statusbar, clear prompt state, wait for notify call"""
+        self.wait_for_request_or_notify()
         self.in_prompt = False
         self.in_confirm = False
         self.prompt = ""
@@ -148,27 +150,34 @@ def current_line(self):
     def should_show_message(self):
         return bool(self.current_line)
 
-    # interaction interface - should be called from other greenlets
+    def wait_for_request_or_notify(self):
+        try:
+            r = self.request_or_notify_queue.get(True, 1)
+        except queue.Empty:
+            raise Exception('Main thread blocked because task thread not calling back')
+        return r
+
+    # interaction interface - should be called from other threads
     def notify(self, msg, n=3, wait_for_keypress=False):
-        self.request_context = greenlet.getcurrent()
         self.message_time = n
         self.message(msg, schedule_refresh=wait_for_keypress)
         self.waiting_for_refresh = True
         self.request_refresh()
-        self.main_context.switch(msg)
+        self.request_or_notify_queue.push(msg)
 
-    # below really ought to be called from greenlets other than main because
+    ###################################
+    # below really ought to be called from threads other than main because
     # they block
     def confirm(self, q):
         """Expected to return True or False, given question prompt q"""
-        self.request_context = greenlet.getcurrent()
         self.prompt = q
         self.in_confirm = True
-        return self.main_context.switch(q)
+        self.request_or_notify_queue.put(q)
+        return self.response_queue.get()
 
     def file_prompt(self, s):
         """Expected to return a file name, given"""
-        self.request_context = greenlet.getcurrent()
         self.prompt = s
         self.in_prompt = True
-        return self.main_context.switch(s)
+        self.request_or_notify_queue.put(s)
+        return self.response_queue.get()
diff --git a/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/repl.py b/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/repl.py
index 30fbbb14..a0409d5f 100644
--- a/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/repl.py
+++ b/bpython/curtsiesfrontend/repl.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import tempfile
+import threading
 import time
 import unicodedata
 from enum import Enum
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ def process_event(self, e):
                 self.cursor_offset, self.current_line
             )
         elif isinstance(e, events.SigIntEvent):
-            self.coderunner.sigint_happened_in_main_context = True
+            self.coderunner.sigint_happened_in_main_thread = True
             self.has_focus = False
             self.current_line = ""
             self.cursor_offset = 0
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ def add_input_character(self, e):
     def readline(self):
         self.has_focus = True
         self.repl.send_to_stdin(self.current_line)
-        value = self.coderunner.request_from_main_context()
+        value = self.coderunner.request_from_main_thread()
         self.readline_results.append(value)
         return value
 
@@ -773,15 +774,15 @@ def process_key_event(self, e):
         elif e in key_dispatch[self.config.redo_key]:  # ctrl-g for redo
             self.redo()
         elif e in key_dispatch[self.config.save_key]:  # ctrl-s for save
-            greenlet.greenlet(self.write2file).switch()
+            self.switch(self.write2file)
         elif e in key_dispatch[self.config.pastebin_key]:  # F8 for pastebin
-            greenlet.greenlet(self.pastebin).switch()
+            self.switch(self.pastebin)
         elif e in key_dispatch[self.config.copy_clipboard_key]:
-            greenlet.greenlet(self.copy2clipboard).switch()
+            self.switch(self.copy2clipboard)
         elif e in key_dispatch[self.config.external_editor_key]:
             self.send_session_to_external_editor()
         elif e in key_dispatch[self.config.edit_config_key]:
-            greenlet.greenlet(self.edit_config).switch()
+            self.switch(self.edit_config)
         # TODO add PAD keys hack as in bpython.cli
         elif e in key_dispatch[self.config.edit_current_block_key]:
             self.send_current_block_to_external_editor()
@@ -792,6 +793,14 @@ def process_key_event(self, e):
         else:
             self.add_normal_character(e)
 
+    def switch(self, task):
+        """Runs task in another thread"""
+        t = threading.Thread(target=task)
+        t.daemon = True
+        logging.debug('starting task thread')
+        t.start()
+        self.interact.wait_for_request_or_notify()
+
     def get_last_word(self):
 
         previous_word = _last_word(self.rl_history.entry)
@@ -1849,7 +1858,7 @@ def prompt_for_undo():
             if n > 0:
                 self.request_undo(n=n)
 
-        greenlet.greenlet(prompt_for_undo).switch()
+        self.switch(prompt_for_undo)
 
     def redo(self):
         if self.redo_stack:
diff --git a/doc/sphinx/source/contributing.rst b/doc/sphinx/source/contributing.rst
index 84fb2da5..d28d450f 100644
--- a/doc/sphinx/source/contributing.rst
+++ b/doc/sphinx/source/contributing.rst
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ Next install your development copy of bpython and its dependencies:
 
     .. code-block:: bash
 
-        $ sudp apt install python3-greenlet python3-pygments python3-requests
+        $ sudp apt install python3-pygments python3-requests
         $ sudo apt install python3-watchdog python3-urwid
         $ sudo apt install python3-sphinx python3-pytest