diff --git a/degesch.c b/degesch.c
index 0b7ee9c..98e4713 100644
--- a/degesch.c
+++ b/degesch.c
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@
  *
  */
 
-/// Some arbitrary limit for the history file
-#define HISTORY_LIMIT 10000
-
 // A table of all attributes we use for output
 #define ATTR_TABLE(XX)                                                         \
 	XX( PROMPT,    "prompt",    "Terminal attributes for the prompt"     )     \
@@ -78,6 +75,12 @@ enum
 #include <histedit.h>
 #endif // HAVE_EDITLINE
 
+/// Some arbitrary limit for the history file
+#define HISTORY_LIMIT 10000
+
+/// Characters that separate words
+#define WORD_BREAKING_CHARS " \f\n\r\t\v"
+
 // --- User interface ----------------------------------------------------------
 
 // I'm not sure which one of these backends is worse: whether it's GNU Readline
@@ -229,8 +232,7 @@ input_start (struct input *self, const char *program_name)
 	rl_startup_hook = app_readline_init;
 	rl_catch_sigwinch = false;
 
-	// TODO: global constant
-	rl_basic_word_break_characters = " \t";
+	rl_basic_word_break_characters = WORD_BREAKING_CHARS;
 	rl_completer_word_break_characters = NULL;
 	rl_attempted_completion_function = app_readline_completion;
 
@@ -3923,9 +3925,9 @@ static char *
 cut_word (char **s)
 {
 	char *start = *s;
-	size_t word_len = strcspn (*s, " \t");
+	size_t word_len = strcspn (*s, WORD_BREAKING_CHARS);
 	char *end = start + word_len;
-	*s = end + strspn (end, " \t");
+	*s = end + strspn (end, WORD_BREAKING_CHARS);
 	*end = '\0';
 	return start;
 }