=== turbogears/command/base.py
==================================================================
--- turbogears/command/base.py  (revision 1787)
+++ turbogears/command/base.py  (local)
@@ -226,6 +226,11 @@
             class CustomShell(code.InteractiveConsole):
                 def raw_input(self, *args, **kw): 
                     try:
+                        import readline
+                    except ImportError:
+                        pass
+
+                    try:
                         return code.InteractiveConsole.raw_input(self,
                                                         *args, **kw)
                     except EOFError: