Thread: InputMismatchException -- I don't understand the logic here; missing something

javaranch.com for some reason isn't saving my intended post, so I'm trying here.

Am trying to set up a main menu to add contacts to a list:

public void showMenu() {//open method
 
			int mainChoice=0;
 
			Scanner mainMenuChoice = new Scanner(System.in);
 
				while (mainChoice!=4) {//open while loop
 
 
 
				System.out.println();
 
				System.out.println("Main Menu:");
				System.out.println();
				System.out.println("1: Add Contact");
				System.out.println("2: Edit/Delete Contact");
				System.out.println("3: Search For Contact");
				System.out.println("4: Quit Application");
				System.out.println();
 
				try {
					System.out.print("Enter Choice: ");
					mainChoice = mainMenuChoice.nextInt();
				}catch (InputMismatchException e){
					System.out.println("The entry must be a number between 1 and 4 inclusive");
					showMenu();
				}
 
			if (mainChoice==4){
				break;
			}
			if (mainChoice==1) {//open if loop for choices
						addContact();
						}//close if loop
 
 
		}//close while loop
 
 
	}//close showMenu() method

Here's the output problem:

 
Main Menu:
 
1: Add Contact
2: Edit/Delete Contact
3: Search For Contact
4: Quit Application
 
Enter Choice: p
The entry must be a number between 1 and 4 inclusive
 
Main Menu:
 
1: Add Contact
2: Edit/Delete Contact
3: Search For Contact
4: Quit Application
 
Enter Choice: 4
 
Main Menu:
 
1: Add Contact
2: Edit/Delete Contact
3: Search For Contact
4: Quit Application
 
Enter Choice: The entry must be a number between 1 and 4 inclusive
 
Main Menu:
 
1: Add Contact
2: Edit/Delete Contact
3: Search For Contact
4: Quit Application
 
Enter Choice:

Not sure if I'm misunderstanding try/catch loops, variable scope, etc. the problem only occurs if I enter the number 4 after a non-integer entry. Can someone help me out?