diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/pause.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/pause.py
index 29ea79fc7e7..abe7ee6ae16 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/pause.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/pause.py
@@ -140,6 +140,20 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
                     old_settings = termios.tcgetattr(fd)
                     tty.setraw(fd)
 
+                    # Enable a few things turned off by tty.setraw()
+                    # ICANON -> Allows characters to be deleted and hides things like ^M.
+                    # ICRNL -> Makes the return key work when ICANON is enabled, otherwise
+                    #          you get stuck at the prompt with no way to get out of it.
+                    # ECHO -> Echos input back to stdout
+                    #
+                    # See man termios for details on these flags
+                    if not seconds:
+                        new_settings = termios.tcgetattr(fd)
+                        new_settings[0] = new_settings[0] | termios.ICRNL
+                        new_settings[3] = new_settings[3] | (termios.ICANON | termios.ECHO)
+                        termios.tcsetattr(fd, termios.TCSANOW, new_settings)
+                        termios.tcsetattr(fd, termios.TCSANOW, new_settings)
+
                     # flush the buffer to make sure no previous key presses
                     # are read in below
                     termios.tcflush(stdin, termios.TCIFLUSH)