diff --git a/essai.c b/essai.c
index 435be07..08c2b6e 100644
--- a/essai.c
+++ b/essai.c
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ int run_the_terminal(int fd_serial, char *title, WINDOW *win);	/* XXX */
 int	verbosity;
 
 /* --------------------------------------------------------------- */
-int traite_les_messages(int sfd, int nbloops)
+int traite_les_messages(int sfd, int nbloops, int notused)
 {
-int		idx, foo, key;
+int		foo, key;
+int		loop_forever;
 char		ligne[200];
 int		Idatas[4];
 float		Fdatas[4];
@@ -37,7 +38,16 @@ if (NULL==fp) {
 	return -1;
 	}
 
-for (idx=0; idx<nbloops; idx++) {
+if (0==nbloops) {
+	fprintf(stderr, "looping forever...\n");
+	loop_forever = 1;
+	}
+else	{
+	fprintf(stderr, "looping %d rounds\n", nbloops);
+	loop_forever = 0;
+	}
+
+do	{
 
 	if (kbhit()) {
 		static char valid_k[] = "+-01";
@@ -107,7 +117,9 @@ for (idx=0; idx<nbloops; idx++) {
 
 	fflush(stderr);			/* really WTF? here */
 
-	}
+	if ( loop_forever )	nbloops = 1;
+
+	} while (0 != nbloops);
 
 fclose(fp);
 
@@ -126,6 +138,7 @@ void help(int k)
 puts("options : ");
 puts("\t-d\tserial device to read.");
 puts("\t-K\tset the K parameter.");
+puts("\t-n NN\tnumber of loops, 0 is infinity");
 puts("\t-v\tincrease verbosity.");
 exit(0);
 }
@@ -138,20 +151,23 @@ int		serial_in;
 char		*device = "/dev/ttyACM0";
 int		K = 0;
 char		ligne[100];
+int		nbreloops;
 
-while ((opt = getopt(argc, argv, "d:hv")) != -1) {
+printf("\n**** %s **** compiled the %s at %s ***\n",
+		argv[0], __DATE__, __TIME__);
+
+
+while ((opt = getopt(argc, argv, "d:hn:v")) != -1) {
 	switch (opt) {
 		case 'd':	device = optarg;	break;
 		case 'h':	help(0);		break;
 		case 'K':	K = atoi(optarg);	break;
+		case 'n':	nbreloops=atoi(optarg);	break;
 		case 'v':	verbosity++;		break;
 		default:				break;
 		}
 	}
 
-printf("\n**** %s **** compiled the %s at %s ***\n",
-		argv[0], __DATE__, __TIME__);
-
 serial_in = prepare_UART(device, 9600);
 if (serial_in < 0) {
 	fprintf(stderr, "\n%s : open device : error %d on %s\n",
@@ -167,7 +183,7 @@ keypad(stdscr, TRUE);           /* acces aux touches 'curseur' */
 sprintf(ligne, " Demonstrator pid:%d %s ", getpid(), device);
 fond_ecran(ligne);
 
-traite_les_messages(serial_in, 50000000);
+traite_les_messages(serial_in, nbreloops, K);
 
 /*
  *      plop, on a fini, il faut restaurer la console