diff --git a/src/Buffer.ts b/src/Buffer.ts
index c1cf3cc7..1ea303b2 100644
--- a/src/Buffer.ts
+++ b/src/Buffer.ts
@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@ export const MAX_BUFFER_SIZE = 4294967295; // 2^32 - 1
  *   - scroll position
  */
 export class Buffer implements IBuffer {
-  private _lines: CircularList<LineData>;
-
+  public lines: CircularList<LineData>;
   public ydisp: number;
   public ybase: number;
   public y: number;
@@ -48,10 +47,6 @@ export class Buffer implements IBuffer {
     this.clear();
   }
 
-  public get lines(): CircularList<LineData> {
-    return this._lines;
-  }
-
   public get hasScrollback(): boolean {
     return this._hasScrollback && this.lines.maxLength > this._terminal.rows;
   }
@@ -81,7 +76,7 @@ export class Buffer implements IBuffer {
    * Fills the buffer's viewport with blank lines.
    */
   public fillViewportRows(): void {
-    if (this._lines.length === 0) {
+    if (this.lines.length === 0) {
       let i = this._terminal.rows;
       while (i--) {
         this.lines.push(this._terminal.blankLine());
@@ -97,7 +92,7 @@ export class Buffer implements IBuffer {
     this.ybase = 0;
     this.y = 0;
     this.x = 0;
-    this._lines = new CircularList<LineData>(this._getCorrectBufferLength(this._terminal.rows));
+    this.lines = new CircularList<LineData>(this._getCorrectBufferLength(this._terminal.rows));
     this.scrollTop = 0;
     this.scrollBottom = this._terminal.rows - 1;
     this.setupTabStops();
@@ -112,19 +107,19 @@ export class Buffer implements IBuffer {
     // Increase max length if needed before adjustments to allow space to fill
     // as required.
     const newMaxLength = this._getCorrectBufferLength(newRows);
-    if (newMaxLength > this._lines.maxLength) {
-      this._lines.maxLength = newMaxLength;
+    if (newMaxLength > this.lines.maxLength) {
+      this.lines.maxLength = newMaxLength;
     }
 
     // The following adjustments should only happen if the buffer has been
     // initialized/filled.
-    if (this._lines.length > 0) {
+    if (this.lines.length > 0) {
       // Deal with columns increasing (we don't do anything when columns reduce)
       if (this._terminal.cols < newCols) {
         const ch: CharData = [this._terminal.defAttr, ' ', 1, 32]; // does xterm use the default attr?
-        for (let i = 0; i < this._lines.length; i++) {
-          while (this._lines.get(i).length < newCols) {
-            this._lines.get(i).push(ch);
+        for (let i = 0; i < this.lines.length; i++) {
+          while (this.lines.get(i).length < newCols) {
+            this.lines.get(i).push(ch);
           }
         }
       }
@@ -133,8 +128,8 @@ export class Buffer implements IBuffer {
       let addToY = 0;
       if (this._terminal.rows < newRows) {
         for (let y = this._terminal.rows; y < newRows; y++) {
-          if (this._lines.length < newRows + this.ybase) {
-            if (this.ybase > 0 && this._lines.length <= this.ybase + this.y + addToY + 1) {
+          if (this.lines.length < newRows + this.ybase) {
+            if (this.ybase > 0 && this.lines.length <= this.ybase + this.y + addToY + 1) {
               // There is room above the buffer and there are no empty elements below the line,
               // scroll up
               this.ybase--;
@@ -146,16 +141,16 @@ export class Buffer implements IBuffer {
             } else {
               // Add a blank line if there is no buffer left at the top to scroll to, or if there
               // are blank lines after the cursor
-              this._lines.push(this._terminal.blankLine(undefined, undefined, newCols));
+              this.lines.push(this._terminal.blankLine(undefined, undefined, newCols));
             }
           }
         }
       } else { // (this._terminal.rows >= newRows)
         for (let y = this._terminal.rows; y > newRows; y--) {
-          if (this._lines.length > newRows + this.ybase) {
-            if (this._lines.length > this.ybase + this.y + 1) {
+          if (this.lines.length > newRows + this.ybase) {
+            if (this.lines.length > this.ybase + this.y + 1) {
               // The line is a blank line below the cursor, remove it
-              this._lines.pop();
+              this.lines.pop();
             } else {
               // The line is the cursor, scroll down
               this.ybase++;
@@ -167,15 +162,15 @@ export class Buffer implements IBuffer {
 
       // Reduce max length if needed after adjustments, this is done after as it
       // would otherwise cut data from the bottom of the buffer.
-      if (newMaxLength < this._lines.maxLength) {
+      if (newMaxLength < this.lines.maxLength) {
         // Trim from the top of the buffer and adjust ybase and ydisp.
-        const amountToTrim = this._lines.length - newMaxLength;
+        const amountToTrim = this.lines.length - newMaxLength;
         if (amountToTrim > 0) {
-          this._lines.trimStart(amountToTrim);
+          this.lines.trimStart(amountToTrim);
           this.ybase = Math.max(this.ybase - amountToTrim, 0);
           this.ydisp = Math.max(this.ydisp - amountToTrim, 0);
         }
-        this._lines.maxLength = newMaxLength;
+        this.lines.maxLength = newMaxLength;
       }
 
       // Make sure that the cursor stays on screen
@@ -310,7 +305,7 @@ export class Buffer implements IBuffer {
   public addMarker(y: number): Marker {
     const marker = new Marker(y);
     this.markers.push(marker);
-    marker.disposables.push(this._lines.addDisposableListener('trim', amount => {
+    marker.disposables.push(this.lines.addDisposableListener('trim', amount => {
       marker.line -= amount;
       // The marker should be disposed when the line is trimmed from the buffer
       if (marker.line < 0) {
diff --git a/src/InputHandler.ts b/src/InputHandler.ts
index acf7af1f..4df3e695 100644
--- a/src/InputHandler.ts
+++ b/src/InputHandler.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
 
   public addChar(char: string, code: number): void {
     if (char >= ' ') {
+
+      // make buffer local for faster access
+      const buffer = this._terminal.buffer;
+
       // calculate print space
       // expensive call, therefore we save width in line buffer
       const chWidth = wcwidth(code);
@@ -35,42 +39,42 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
         this._terminal.emit('a11y.char', char);
       }
 
-      let row = this._terminal.buffer.y + this._terminal.buffer.ybase;
+      let row = buffer.y + buffer.ybase;
 
       // insert combining char in last cell
       // FIXME: needs handling after cursor jumps
-      if (!chWidth && this._terminal.buffer.x) {
+      if (!chWidth && buffer.x) {
         // dont overflow left
-        if (this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.buffer.x - 1]) {
-          if (!this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.buffer.x - 1][CHAR_DATA_WIDTH_INDEX]) {
+        if (buffer.lines.get(row)[buffer.x - 1]) {
+          if (!buffer.lines.get(row)[buffer.x - 1][CHAR_DATA_WIDTH_INDEX]) {
             // found empty cell after fullwidth, need to go 2 cells back
-            if (this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.buffer.x - 2]) {
-              this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.buffer.x - 2][CHAR_DATA_CHAR_INDEX] += char;
-              this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.buffer.x - 2][3] = char.charCodeAt(0);
+            if (buffer.lines.get(row)[buffer.x - 2]) {
+              buffer.lines.get(row)[buffer.x - 2][CHAR_DATA_CHAR_INDEX] += char;
+              buffer.lines.get(row)[buffer.x - 2][3] = char.charCodeAt(0);
             }
           } else {
-            this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.buffer.x - 1][CHAR_DATA_CHAR_INDEX] += char;
-            this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.buffer.x - 1][3] = char.charCodeAt(0);
+            buffer.lines.get(row)[buffer.x - 1][CHAR_DATA_CHAR_INDEX] += char;
+            buffer.lines.get(row)[buffer.x - 1][3] = char.charCodeAt(0);
           }
-          this._terminal.updateRange(this._terminal.buffer.y);
+          this._terminal.updateRange(buffer.y);
         }
         return;
       }
 
       // goto next line if ch would overflow
       // TODO: needs a global min terminal width of 2
-      if (this._terminal.buffer.x + chWidth - 1 >= this._terminal.cols) {
+      if (buffer.x + chWidth - 1 >= this._terminal.cols) {
         // autowrap - DECAWM
         if (this._terminal.wraparoundMode) {
-          this._terminal.buffer.x = 0;
-          this._terminal.buffer.y++;
-          if (this._terminal.buffer.y > this._terminal.buffer.scrollBottom) {
-            this._terminal.buffer.y--;
+          buffer.x = 0;
+          buffer.y++;
+          if (buffer.y > buffer.scrollBottom) {
+            buffer.y--;
             this._terminal.scroll(true);
           } else {
             // The line already exists (eg. the initial viewport), mark it as a
             // wrapped line
-            (<any>this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(this._terminal.buffer.y)).isWrapped = true;
+            (<any>buffer.lines.get(buffer.y)).isWrapped = true;
           }
         } else {
           if (chWidth === 2) { // FIXME: check for xterm behavior
@@ -78,7 +82,7 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
           }
         }
       }
-      row = this._terminal.buffer.y + this._terminal.buffer.ybase;
+      row = buffer.y + buffer.ybase;
 
       // insert mode: move characters to right
       if (this._terminal.insertMode) {
@@ -86,26 +90,26 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
         for (let moves = 0; moves < chWidth; ++moves) {
           // remove last cell, if it's width is 0
           // we have to adjust the second last cell as well
-          const removed = this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(this._terminal.buffer.y + this._terminal.buffer.ybase).pop();
+          const removed = buffer.lines.get(buffer.y + buffer.ybase).pop();
           if (removed[CHAR_DATA_WIDTH_INDEX] === 0
-              && this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.cols - 2]
-              && this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.cols - 2][CHAR_DATA_WIDTH_INDEX] === 2) {
-            this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.cols - 2] = [this._terminal.curAttr, ' ', 1, ' '.charCodeAt(0)];
+              && buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.cols - 2]
+              && buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.cols - 2][CHAR_DATA_WIDTH_INDEX] === 2) {
+            buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.cols - 2] = [this._terminal.curAttr, ' ', 1, ' '.charCodeAt(0)];
           }
 
           // insert empty cell at cursor
-          this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row).splice(this._terminal.buffer.x, 0, [this._terminal.curAttr, ' ', 1, ' '.charCodeAt(0)]);
+          buffer.lines.get(row).splice(buffer.x, 0, [this._terminal.curAttr, ' ', 1, ' '.charCodeAt(0)]);
         }
       }
 
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.buffer.x] = [this._terminal.curAttr, char, chWidth, char.charCodeAt(0)];
-      this._terminal.buffer.x++;
-      this._terminal.updateRange(this._terminal.buffer.y);
+      buffer.lines.get(row)[buffer.x] = [this._terminal.curAttr, char, chWidth, char.charCodeAt(0)];
+      buffer.x++;
+      this._terminal.updateRange(buffer.y);
 
       // fullwidth char - set next cell width to zero and advance cursor
       if (chWidth === 2) {
-        this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[this._terminal.buffer.x] = [this._terminal.curAttr, '', 0, undefined];
-        this._terminal.buffer.x++;
+        buffer.lines.get(row)[buffer.x] = [this._terminal.curAttr, '', 0, undefined];
+        buffer.x++;
       }
     }
   }
@@ -123,17 +127,20 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
    * Line Feed or New Line (NL).  (LF  is Ctrl-J).
    */
   public lineFeed(): void {
+    // make buffer local for faster access
+    const buffer = this._terminal.buffer;
+
     if (this._terminal.convertEol) {
-      this._terminal.buffer.x = 0;
+      buffer.x = 0;
     }
-    this._terminal.buffer.y++;
-    if (this._terminal.buffer.y > this._terminal.buffer.scrollBottom) {
-      this._terminal.buffer.y--;
+    buffer.y++;
+    if (buffer.y > buffer.scrollBottom) {
+      buffer.y--;
       this._terminal.scroll();
     }
     // If the end of the line is hit, prevent this action from wrapping around to the next line.
-    if (this._terminal.buffer.x >= this._terminal.cols) {
-      this._terminal.buffer.x--;
+    if (buffer.x >= this._terminal.cols) {
+      buffer.x--;
     }
     /**
      * This event is emitted whenever the terminal outputs a LF or NL.
@@ -199,13 +206,16 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
     let param = params[0];
     if (param < 1) param = 1;
 
-    const row = this._terminal.buffer.y + this._terminal.buffer.ybase;
-    let j = this._terminal.buffer.x;
+    // make buffer local for faster access
+    const buffer = this._terminal.buffer;
+
+    const row = buffer.y + buffer.ybase;
+    let j = buffer.x;
     const ch: CharData = [this._terminal.eraseAttr(), ' ', 1, 32]; // xterm
 
     while (param-- && j < this._terminal.cols) {
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row).splice(j++, 0, ch);
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row).pop();
+      buffer.lines.get(row).splice(j++, 0, ch);
+      buffer.lines.get(row).pop();
     }
   }
 
@@ -447,20 +457,24 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
     if (param < 1) {
       param = 1;
     }
-    let row: number = this._terminal.buffer.y + this._terminal.buffer.ybase;
 
-    let scrollBottomRowsOffset = this._terminal.rows - 1 - this._terminal.buffer.scrollBottom;
-    let scrollBottomAbsolute = this._terminal.rows - 1 + this._terminal.buffer.ybase - scrollBottomRowsOffset + 1;
+    // make buffer local for faster access
+    const buffer = this._terminal.buffer;
+
+    let row: number = buffer.y + buffer.ybase;
+
+    let scrollBottomRowsOffset = this._terminal.rows - 1 - buffer.scrollBottom;
+    let scrollBottomAbsolute = this._terminal.rows - 1 + buffer.ybase - scrollBottomRowsOffset + 1;
     while (param--) {
       // test: echo -e '\e[44m\e[1L\e[0m'
       // blankLine(true) - xterm/linux behavior
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.splice(scrollBottomAbsolute - 1, 1);
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.splice(row, 0, this._terminal.blankLine(true));
+      buffer.lines.splice(scrollBottomAbsolute - 1, 1);
+      buffer.lines.splice(row, 0, this._terminal.blankLine(true));
     }
 
     // this.maxRange();
-    this._terminal.updateRange(this._terminal.buffer.y);
-    this._terminal.updateRange(this._terminal.buffer.scrollBottom);
+    this._terminal.updateRange(buffer.y);
+    this._terminal.updateRange(buffer.scrollBottom);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -472,21 +486,25 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
     if (param < 1) {
       param = 1;
     }
-    const row: number = this._terminal.buffer.y + this._terminal.buffer.ybase;
+
+    // make buffer local for faster access
+    const buffer = this._terminal.buffer;
+
+    const row: number = buffer.y + buffer.ybase;
 
     let j: number;
-    j = this._terminal.rows - 1 - this._terminal.buffer.scrollBottom;
-    j = this._terminal.rows - 1 + this._terminal.buffer.ybase - j;
+    j = this._terminal.rows - 1 - buffer.scrollBottom;
+    j = this._terminal.rows - 1 + buffer.ybase - j;
     while (param--) {
       // test: echo -e '\e[44m\e[1M\e[0m'
       // blankLine(true) - xterm/linux behavior
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.splice(row, 1);
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.splice(j, 0, this._terminal.blankLine(true));
+      buffer.lines.splice(row, 1);
+      buffer.lines.splice(j, 0, this._terminal.blankLine(true));
     }
 
     // this.maxRange();
-    this._terminal.updateRange(this._terminal.buffer.y);
-    this._terminal.updateRange(this._terminal.buffer.scrollBottom);
+    this._terminal.updateRange(buffer.y);
+    this._terminal.updateRange(buffer.scrollBottom);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -499,14 +517,17 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
       param = 1;
     }
 
-    const row = this._terminal.buffer.y + this._terminal.buffer.ybase;
+    // make buffer local for faster access
+    const buffer = this._terminal.buffer;
+
+    const row = buffer.y + buffer.ybase;
     const ch: CharData = [this._terminal.eraseAttr(), ' ', 1, 32]; // xterm
 
     while (param--) {
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row).splice(this._terminal.buffer.x, 1);
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row).push(ch);
+      buffer.lines.get(row).splice(buffer.x, 1);
+      buffer.lines.get(row).push(ch);
     }
-    this._terminal.updateRange(this._terminal.buffer.y);
+    this._terminal.updateRange(buffer.y);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -514,13 +535,17 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
    */
   public scrollUp(params: number[]): void {
     let param = params[0] || 1;
+
+    // make buffer local for faster access
+    const buffer = this._terminal.buffer;
+
     while (param--) {
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.splice(this._terminal.buffer.ybase + this._terminal.buffer.scrollTop, 1);
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.splice(this._terminal.buffer.ybase + this._terminal.buffer.scrollBottom, 0, this._terminal.blankLine());
+      buffer.lines.splice(buffer.ybase + buffer.scrollTop, 1);
+      buffer.lines.splice(buffer.ybase + buffer.scrollBottom, 0, this._terminal.blankLine());
     }
     // this.maxRange();
-    this._terminal.updateRange(this._terminal.buffer.scrollTop);
-    this._terminal.updateRange(this._terminal.buffer.scrollBottom);
+    this._terminal.updateRange(buffer.scrollTop);
+    this._terminal.updateRange(buffer.scrollBottom);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -528,13 +553,17 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
    */
   public scrollDown(params: number[]): void {
     let param = params[0] || 1;
+
+    // make buffer local for faster access
+    const buffer = this._terminal.buffer;
+
     while (param--) {
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.splice(this._terminal.buffer.ybase + this._terminal.buffer.scrollBottom, 1);
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.splice(this._terminal.buffer.ybase + this._terminal.buffer.scrollTop, 0, this._terminal.blankLine());
+      buffer.lines.splice(buffer.ybase + buffer.scrollBottom, 1);
+      buffer.lines.splice(buffer.ybase + buffer.scrollTop, 0, this._terminal.blankLine());
     }
     // this.maxRange();
-    this._terminal.updateRange(this._terminal.buffer.scrollTop);
-    this._terminal.updateRange(this._terminal.buffer.scrollBottom);
+    this._terminal.updateRange(buffer.scrollTop);
+    this._terminal.updateRange(buffer.scrollBottom);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -547,12 +576,15 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
       param = 1;
     }
 
-    const row = this._terminal.buffer.y + this._terminal.buffer.ybase;
-    let j = this._terminal.buffer.x;
+    // make buffer local for faster access
+    const buffer = this._terminal.buffer;
+
+    const row = buffer.y + buffer.ybase;
+    let j = buffer.x;
     const ch: CharData = [this._terminal.eraseAttr(), ' ', 1, 32]; // xterm
 
     while (param-- && j < this._terminal.cols) {
-      this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(row)[j++] = ch;
+      buffer.lines.get(row)[j++] = ch;
     }
   }
 
@@ -561,8 +593,12 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
    */
   public cursorBackwardTab(params: number[]): void {
     let param = params[0] || 1;
+
+    // make buffer local for faster access
+    const buffer = this._terminal.buffer;
+
     while (param--) {
-      this._terminal.buffer.x = this._terminal.buffer.prevStop();
+      buffer.x = buffer.prevStop();
     }
   }
 
@@ -602,11 +638,15 @@ export class InputHandler implements IInputHandler {
    */
   public repeatPrecedingCharacter(params: number[]): void {
     let param = params[0] || 1;
-    const line = this._terminal.buffer.lines.get(this._terminal.buffer.ybase + this._terminal.buffer.y);
-    const ch = line[this._terminal.buffer.x - 1] || [this._terminal.defAttr, ' ', 1, 32];
+
+    // make buffer local for faster access
+    const buffer = this._terminal.buffer;
+
+    const line = buffer.lines.get(buffer.ybase + buffer.y);
+    const ch = line[buffer.x - 1] || [this._terminal.defAttr, ' ', 1, 32];
 
     while (param--) {
-      line[this._terminal.buffer.x++] = ch;
+      line[buffer.x++] = ch;
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/Linkifier.test.ts b/src/Linkifier.test.ts
index 0e67403c..61245296 100644
--- a/src/Linkifier.test.ts
+++ b/src/Linkifier.test.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ describe('Linkifier', () => {
     terminal = new MockTerminal();
     terminal.cols = 100;
     terminal.buffer = new MockBuffer();
-    terminal.buffer.lines = new CircularList<LineData>(20);
+    (<MockBuffer>terminal.buffer).setLines(new CircularList<LineData>(20));
     terminal.buffer.ydisp = 0;
     linkifier = new TestLinkifier(terminal);
     mouseZoneManager = new TestMouseZoneManager();
diff --git a/src/Types.ts b/src/Types.ts
index 84355e1f..2442b027 100644
--- a/src/Types.ts
+++ b/src/Types.ts
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ export interface ITerminalOptions extends IPublicTerminalOptions {
 }
 
 export interface IBuffer {
-  lines: ICircularList<LineData>;
+  readonly lines: ICircularList<LineData>;
   ydisp: number;
   ybase: number;
   y: number;
diff --git a/src/utils/TestUtils.test.ts b/src/utils/TestUtils.test.ts
index 4436c526..51aafb50 100644
--- a/src/utils/TestUtils.test.ts
+++ b/src/utils/TestUtils.test.ts
@@ -309,6 +309,9 @@ export class MockBuffer implements IBuffer {
   prevStop(x?: number): number {
     throw new Error('Method not implemented.');
   }
+  setLines(lines: ICircularList<[number, string, number, number][]>): void {
+    this.lines = lines;
+  }
 }
 
 export class MockRenderer implements IRenderer {