diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 26e635fdbdc72..673e737e4605b 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -142,6 +142,17 @@ impl<'a> Context<'a> {
     pub fn count(&self) -> usize {
         self.count.map_or(1, |v| v.get())
     }
+
+    /// Waits on all pending jobs, and then tries to flush all pending write
+    /// operations for all documents.
+    pub fn block_try_flush_writes(&mut self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        compositor::Context {
+            editor: self.editor,
+            jobs: self.jobs,
+            scroll: None,
+        }
+        .block_try_flush_writes()
+    }
 }
 
 #[inline]
@@ -5837,7 +5848,10 @@ fn shell_prompt(cx: &mut Context, prompt: Cow<'static, str>, behavior: ShellBeha
 
 fn suspend(_cx: &mut Context) {
     #[cfg(not(windows))]
-    signal_hook::low_level::raise(signal_hook::consts::signal::SIGTSTP).unwrap();
+    {
+        _cx.block_try_flush_writes().ok();
+        signal_hook::low_level::raise(signal_hook::consts::signal::SIGTSTP).unwrap();
+    }
 }
 
 fn add_newline_above(cx: &mut Context) {