diff --git a/org/channel-tui-main.org b/org/channel-tui-main.org
index 7687eb0..e374d1f 100644
--- a/org/channel-tui-main.org
+++ b/org/channel-tui-main.org
@@ -977,18 +977,22 @@ Returns T on success, nil on failure. Does NOT wait or retry."
                                                (subseq f 0 (1- f))))))
                                     (t nil)))
                                 (on-key ch)))
-                           ;; v0.8.0: only printable characters reach on-key; prevents
-                           ;; ctrl-byte keywords (e.g. :CTRL-A) from matching keymaps
-                           (t (when (characterp ch)
-                                (if cl-tty.dialog:*dialog-stack*
-                                    (let* ((dlg (car cl-tty.dialog:*dialog-stack*))
-                                           (sel (cl-tty.dialog:dialog-content dlg)))
-                                      (when (graphic-char-p ch)
-                                        (setf (cl-tty.select:select-filter sel)
-                                              (concatenate 'string
-                                                (or (cl-tty.select:select-filter sel) "")
-                                                (string ch)))))
-                                    (on-key ch :code (char-code ch))))))))))
+                           ;; v0.8.0: typecase converts integers to characters
+                           ;; so ctrl-byte keywords (:CTRL-A) are rejected
+                           (t (let ((chr (typecase ch
+                                           (character ch)
+                                           ((integer 32 126) (code-char ch))
+                                           (t nil))))
+                                (when chr
+                                  (if cl-tty.dialog:*dialog-stack*
+                                      (let* ((dlg (car cl-tty.dialog:*dialog-stack*))
+                                             (sel (cl-tty.dialog:dialog-content dlg)))
+                                        (when (graphic-char-p chr)
+                                          (setf (cl-tty.select:select-filter sel)
+                                                (concatenate 'string
+                                                  (or (cl-tty.select:select-filter sel) "")
+                                                  (string chr)))))
+                                      (on-key chr :code (when (integerp ch) ch)))))))))))
                 ;; Keyboard reader via read-raw-byte (proven CSI detection)
                 (handler-case
                     (let* ((b (cl-tty.input::read-raw-byte :timeout 0.1))