This invention provides a method to operate a terminal (100), as well as a terminal that operates in accordance with the method. The method includes, in response to initiating a data write operation with a non-volatile memory device (132), activating a sensor (190) that is capable of detecting that the terminal is falling; during the write operation, monitoring the sensor to determine if the terminal is falling and, if it is determined that the terminal is falling, terminating the write operation and executing a non-volatile memory shutdown procedure, else, if it is determined that the terminal is not falling, completing the write operation and deactivating the sensor.