diff --git a/src/wormhole/cli/cmd_send.py b/src/wormhole/cli/cmd_send.py
index 2c46af8..24d9b1c 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/cli/cmd_send.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/cli/cmd_send.py
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ class Sender:
 
         if not args.zeromode:
             print(u"Wormhole code is: %s" % code, file=args.stdout)
+            # flush stdout so the code is displayed immediately
+            sys.stdout.flush()
         print(u"", file=args.stdout)
 
         yield w.establish_key()