diff -r 8e1caaf567c4 Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
--- a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py	Wed May 08 00:44:15 2013 +0200
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py	Fri May 17 23:23:04 2013 -0400
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 import traceback
 import types
 import io
+import textwrap
 
 import linecache
 from code import InteractiveInterpreter
@@ -806,6 +807,8 @@
 class PyShell(OutputWindow):
 
     shell_title = "Python " + python_version() + " Shell"
+    shell_ps1 = '>>> '
+    shell_ps2 = '... ' # not used yet
 
     # Override classes
     ColorDelegator = ModifiedColorDelegator
@@ -934,7 +937,6 @@
                 RemoteDebugger.close_remote_debugger(self.interp.rpcclt)
             self.resetoutput()
             self.console.write("[DEBUG OFF]\n")
-            sys.ps1 = ">>> "
             self.showprompt()
         self.set_debugger_indicator()
 
@@ -946,7 +948,7 @@
             dbg_gui = Debugger.Debugger(self)
         self.interp.setdebugger(dbg_gui)
         dbg_gui.load_breakpoints()
-        sys.ps1 = "[DEBUG ON]\n>>> "
+        self.console.write("[DEBUG ON]\n")
         self.showprompt()
         self.set_debugger_indicator()
 
@@ -1234,15 +1236,18 @@
 
     def showprompt(self):
         self.resetoutput()
-        try:
-            s = str(sys.ps1)
-        except:
-            s = ""
-        self.console.write(s)
+        self.getprompt()
         self.text.mark_set("insert", "end-1c")
         self.set_line_and_column()
         self.io.reset_undo()
 
+    def getprompt(self):
+        self.interp.runcommand(textwrap.dedent("""\
+        try:
+            print(sys.ps1, end="")
+        except:
+            print('>>> ',end="")"""))
+    
     def resetoutput(self):
         source = self.text.get("iomark", "end-1c")
         if self.history: