diff --git a/tools/idf_monitor.py b/tools/idf_monitor.py
index ccaddffa13..f0dcd6f7c6 100755
--- a/tools/idf_monitor.py
+++ b/tools/idf_monitor.py
@@ -443,13 +443,25 @@ class Monitor(object):
         with self:  # disable console control
             sys.stderr.write(ANSI_NORMAL)
             try:
-                subprocess.call(["%sgdb" % self.toolchain_prefix,
+                process = subprocess.Popen(["%sgdb" % self.toolchain_prefix,
                                 "-ex", "set serial baud %d" % self.serial.baudrate,
                                 "-ex", "target remote %s" % self.serial.port,
                                 "-ex", "interrupt",  # monitor has already parsed the first 'reason' command, need a second
                                 self.elf_file], cwd=".")
+                process.wait()
             except KeyboardInterrupt:
                 pass  # happens on Windows, maybe other OSes
+            finally:
+                try:
+                    # on Linux, maybe other OSes, gdb sometimes seems to be alive even after wait() returns...
+                    process.terminate()
+                except:
+                    pass
+                try:
+                    # also on Linux, maybe other OSes, gdb sometimes exits uncleanly and breaks the tty mode
+                    subprocess.call(["stty", "sane"])
+                except:
+                    pass  # don't care if there's no stty, we tried...
             self.prompt_next_action("gdb exited")
 
     def output_enable(self, enable):
@@ -567,6 +579,17 @@ if os.name == 'nt':
             self.handle = GetStdHandle(STD_ERROR_HANDLE if self.output == sys.stderr else STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE)
             self.matched = b''
 
+        def _output_write(self, data):
+            # Windows 10 bug since the Fall Creators Update, sometimes writing to console randomly fails
+            # (but usually succeeds afterwards, it seems.)
+            # Ref https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/issues/1136
+            for tries in range(3):
+                try:
+                    self.output.write(data)
+                    return
+                except IOError:
+                    pass
+
         def write(self, data):
             for b in data:
                 l = len(self.matched)
@@ -585,18 +608,10 @@ if os.name == 'nt':
                                 color |= FOREGROUND_INTENSITY
                             SetConsoleTextAttribute(self.handle, color)
                         else:
-                            self.output.write(self.matched) # not an ANSI color code, display verbatim
+                            self._output_write(self.matched) # not an ANSI color code, display verbatim
                         self.matched = b''
                 else:
-                    try:
-                        self.output.write(b)
-                    except IOError:
-                        # Windows 10 bug since the Fall Creators Update, sometimes writing to console randomly fails
-                        # (but usually succeeds the second time, it seems.) Ref https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/issues/1136
-                        try:
-                            self.output.write(b)
-                        except IOError:
-                            pass
+                    self._output_write(b)
                     self.matched = b''
 
         def flush(self):