diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/App.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/App.tsx
index 2be681e5..d311facf 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/App.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/App.tsx
@@ -632,6 +632,10 @@ const App = ({ config, settings, startupWarnings = [], version }: AppProps) => {
     ) {
       setShowIDEContextDetail((prev) => !prev);
     } else if (key.ctrl && (input === 'c' || input === 'C')) {
+      if (isAuthenticating) {
+        // Let AuthInProgress component handle the input.
+        return;
+      }
       handleExit(ctrlCPressedOnce, setCtrlCPressedOnce, ctrlCTimerRef);
     } else if (key.ctrl && (input === 'd' || input === 'D')) {
       if (buffer.text.length > 0) {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/AuthInProgress.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/AuthInProgress.tsx
index 196097f2..f05efe1d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/AuthInProgress.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/AuthInProgress.tsx
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ export function AuthInProgress({
 }: AuthInProgressProps): React.JSX.Element {
   const [timedOut, setTimedOut] = useState(false);
 
-  useInput((_, key) => {
-    if (key.escape) {
+  useInput((input, key) => {
+    if (key.escape || (key.ctrl && (input === 'c' || input === 'C'))) {
       onTimeout();
     }
   });
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ export function AuthInProgress({
       ) : (
         <Box>
           <Text>
-            <Spinner type="dots" /> Waiting for auth... (Press ESC to cancel)
+            <Spinner type="dots" /> Waiting for auth... (Press ESC or CTRL+C to
+            cancel)
           </Text>
         </Box>
       )}