diff --git a/include/system.h b/include/system.h
index f564faf..a47ff83 100644
--- a/include/system.h
+++ b/include/system.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ extern int strlen(const char *str);
 extern unsigned char inportb (unsigned short _port);
 extern void outportb (unsigned short _port, unsigned char _data);
 extern bool strcmp(char* str1, char* str2);
+extern void idle();
 /* ISRS.C */
 void isrs_install();
 /* This defines what the stack looks like after an ISR was running */
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 1c0c2e0..59c4548 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -114,4 +114,9 @@ void main()
     /* ...and leave this loop in. There is an endless loop in
     *  'start.asm' also, if you accidentally delete this next line */
     for (;;);
+}
+
+void idle()
+{
+	__asm__ __volatile__ ("hlt");
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/shell.c b/src/shell.c
index 447e768..4ff974d 100644
--- a/src/shell.c
+++ b/src/shell.c
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ void run_shell()
 	puts("Starting interactive shell...\n");
 	commandbuffer[0] = '\0';
 	puts("#>");
-	for(;;);
+	for(;;) idle();
 }
 
 void key_pressed(unsigned char* character)