diff --git a/lib/tput.js b/lib/tput.js
index e04f317..b34b2ea 100644
--- a/lib/tput.js
+++ b/lib/tput.js
@@ -501,22 +501,16 @@ Tput.prototype._compile = function(val) {
     }
   }
 
-  function read(regex) {
+  function read(regex, buf) {
     cap = regex.exec(val);
     if (!cap) return;
     val = val.substring(cap[0].length);
     ch = op = i = v = cap[1];
-    clear();
-    return cap;
-  }
-
-  function read_(regex, buf) {
-    cap = regex.exec(val);
-    if (!cap) return;
-    val = val.substring(cap[0].length);
-    ch = op = i = v = cap[1];
-    if (!buf) clear();
-    else if (typeof buf === 'string') buff += buf;
+    //if (buf == null) {
+      clear();
+    //} else if (typeof buf === 'string') {
+      //buff += buf;
+    //}
     return cap;
   }
 
@@ -538,6 +532,7 @@ Tput.prototype._compile = function(val) {
   }
 
   function print(c) {
+    //buff += c;
     echo('"' + c + '"');
   }
 
@@ -551,17 +546,8 @@ Tput.prototype._compile = function(val) {
 
   while (val) {
     // '\e' -> ^[
-    // if (read(/^\\e/i)) {
-    //   print('\\x1b');
-    //   continue;
-    // }
-    // optimized:
-    // if (read_(/^\\e/i, '\x1b')) {
-    //   continue;
-    // }
-    if (/^\\e/i.test(val)) {
-      val = val.substring(2);
-      buff += '\x1b';
+    if (read(/^\\e/i)) { // , '\x1b')) {
+      print('\\x1b');
       continue;
     }