diff --git a/org/channel-tui-main.org b/org/channel-tui-main.org
index 3bf2e4c..ed8ba56 100644
--- a/org/channel-tui-main.org
+++ b/org/channel-tui-main.org
@@ -758,6 +758,55 @@ supplied (e.g. \"/\"), pre-fill the select filter with it."
 
 ** Connection
 #+BEGIN_SRC lisp :tangle /home/user/.local/share/passepartout/lisp/channel-tui-main.lisp
+;; Process a key-event: route through dialog, keymap, navigation, or text-input.
+(defun process-key-event (event)
+  (let* ((k (cl-tty.input:key-event-key event)))
+    (cond
+      ((st :dialog-stack)
+       (let* ((dlg (car (st :dialog-stack)))
+              (sel (cl-tty.dialog:dialog-content dlg)))
+         (cond
+           ((eq k :escape)
+            (pop (st :dialog-stack))
+            (setf (st :dirty) (list t t nil)))
+           ((member k '(:up :down))
+            (if (eq k :up)
+                (cl-tty.dialog:select-prev sel)
+                (cl-tty.dialog:select-next sel))
+            (setf (st :dirty) (list t t nil)))
+           ((eq k :enter)
+            (let* ((filtered (cl-tty.dialog:select-filtered-options sel))
+                   (idx (cl-tty.dialog:select-selected-index sel))
+                   (item (when (< idx (length filtered))
+                           (third (nth idx filtered)))))
+              (when item
+                (let ((cb (cl-tty.dialog:select-on-select sel)))
+                  (when cb (funcall cb item))))
+              (pop (st :dialog-stack))
+              (setf (st :dirty) (list t t nil))))
+           ((let ((ch (code-char (cl-tty.input:key-event-code event))))
+             (and ch (graphic-char-p ch))
+             (setf (cl-tty.dialog:select-filter sel)
+                   (concatenate 'string
+                     (or (cl-tty.dialog:select-filter sel) "")
+                     (string ch)))))
+           ((eq k :backspace)
+            (let* ((f (cl-tty.dialog:select-filter sel))
+                   (len (length (or f ""))))
+              (when (> len 0)
+                (setf (cl-tty.dialog:select-filter sel)
+                      (subseq f 0 (1- len)))))))))
+      ((cl-tty.input:dispatch-key-event event)
+       (setf (st :dirty) (list t t nil)))
+      ((member k '(:enter :tab :escape :up :down))
+       (on-key k))
+      (t (handler-case
+             (progn
+               (cl-tty.input:handle-text-input (st :text-input) event)
+               (setf (st :dirty) (list nil nil t)))
+           (error (c)
+             (add-msg :system (format nil "* Input error: ~a *" c))))))))
+
 (defun connect-daemon (&optional (host "127.0.0.1") (start-port 9105) (end-port 9115))
   "Try to connect to daemon once across START-PORT to END-PORT.
 Returns T on success, nil on failure. Does NOT wait or retry."
@@ -919,8 +968,11 @@ Returns T on success, nil on failure. Does NOT wait or retry."
                    (loop while (and (st :running) (not (st :connected)))
                          do (connect-daemon)
                          (unless (st :connected) (sleep 5))))
-                 :name "daemon-auto-connect"))
-           (loop while (st :running) do
+                  :name "daemon-auto-connect"))
+            ;; Initial render before first read-event (which may block)
+            (unless (st :dialog-stack)
+              (redraw be w h))
+            (loop while (st :running) do
                (dolist (ev (drain-queue))
                  (cond
                    ((eq (getf ev :type) :daemon)
@@ -982,25 +1034,8 @@ Returns T on success, nil on failure. Does NOT wait or retry."
                           (let ((new-size resize-data))
                             (setq w (car new-size) h (cdr new-size))
                             (setf (st :dirty) (list t t t))))
-                         ((cl-tty.input:key-event-p ev)
-                          (let* ((k (cl-tty.input:key-event-key ev))
-                                 (ctrl (cl-tty.input:key-event-ctrl ev))
-                                 (code (cl-tty.input:key-event-code ev))
-                                 (ch (cond
-                                       ;; Ctrl+letter → :CTRL-X keyword (compatible with case dispatch)
-                                       (ctrl (let ((c (char (symbol-name k) 0)))
-                                               (intern (string-upcase (format nil "CTRL-~a" c)) :keyword)))
-                                       ;; PageUp/PageDown → :ppage/:npage
-                                       ((eq k :page-up) :ppage)
-                                       ((eq k :page-down) :npage)
-                                       ;; Single-char keyword → printable character
-                                       ((and (keywordp k) (= (length (symbol-name k)) 1))
-                                        (code-char code))
-                                       ;; Everything else → pass keyword through
-                                       (t k))))
-                            (queue-event
-                              (list :type :key
-                                    :payload (list :code (or code 0) :ch ch)))))))
+                          ((cl-tty.input:key-event-p ev)
+                            (process-key-event ev))))
                     (error (c)
                       (add-msg :system (format nil "* Reader error: ~a *" c))))
                  ;; Guard w and h before render (resize or other code may have set them to nil)
@@ -1062,12 +1097,9 @@ Returns T on success, nil on failure. Does NOT wait or retry."
                         (cl-tty.backend:draw-text be 0 (- h 3)
                                                   (format nil "> ~a" (or filter ""))
                                                   (theme-color :input-prompt) bg-p))
-                     (cl-tty.backend:end-sync be))
-                  (sleep 0.1)
-                  ;; Show terminal cursor at input position every frame
-                  (unless (st :dialog-stack)
-                    (passepartout.channel-tui:position-cursor be w h))))
-               (progn (disconnect-daemon)))))
+                      (cl-tty.backend:end-sync be))
+                   (sleep 0.1)))
+                (progn (disconnect-daemon)))))
 #+END_SRC
 
 * Test Suite
diff --git a/org/channel-tui-state.org b/org/channel-tui-state.org
index 8a2e436..9fef5b5 100644
--- a/org/channel-tui-state.org
+++ b/org/channel-tui-state.org
@@ -20,10 +20,9 @@ All state mutation flows through event handlers in the controller.
 #+BEGIN_SRC lisp :tangle /home/user/.local/share/passepartout/lisp/channel-tui-state.lisp
 (defpackage :passepartout.channel-tui
   (:use :cl :passepartout :usocket :bordeaux-threads)
-  (:export :tui-main :st :add-msg :now :input-string
+  (:export :tui-main :st :add-msg :now
            :queue-event :drain-queue :init-state
             :view-status :view-chat :view-input :redraw
-            :position-cursor
             :input-panel-top
            :on-key :on-daemon-msg :send-daemon
            :connect-daemon :disconnect-daemon
@@ -310,11 +309,10 @@ Adds any missing keys with defaults to handle saved themes from older versions."
 (defun init-state ()
   (setf *state*
         (list :running t :mode :chat :connected nil :stream nil
-              :input-buffer nil :input-history nil :input-hpos 0
+              :input-history nil :input-hpos 0
               :text-input (cl-tty.input:make-text-input)
               :messages (make-array 16 :adjustable t :fill-pointer 0)
-               :scroll-offset 0 :busy nil :cursor-pos 0
-               :cursor-line 0 :cursor-col 0
+               :scroll-offset 0 :busy nil
               :pending-ctrl-x nil
               :scroll-at-bottom t :scroll-notify nil
               :streaming-text nil :url-buffer nil            ; v0.7.1
@@ -342,15 +340,6 @@ Adds any missing keys with defaults to handle saved themes from older versions."
     (declare (ignore s))
     (format nil "~2,'0d:~2,'0d" h m)))
 
-(defun input-string ()
-  (cl-tty.input:text-input-value (st :text-input)))
-
-(defun input-insert-char (ch)
-  (cl-tty.input:text-input-insert (st :text-input) ch))
-
-(defun input-delete-char ()
-  (cl-tty.input:text-input-backspace (st :text-input)))
-
 (defun add-msg (role content &key gate-trace panel)
   (vector-push-extend (list :role role :content content :time (now) :gate-trace gate-trace :panel panel) (st :messages))
   ;; v0.7.0: notify when scrolled up and new msg arrives
diff --git a/org/channel-tui-view.org b/org/channel-tui-view.org
index 6a37bf4..9543ec6 100644
--- a/org/channel-tui-view.org
+++ b/org/channel-tui-view.org
@@ -71,16 +71,16 @@ Returns a list of strings, one per line."
   )
 
 (defun input-panel-top (chat-w h)
-  "Compute the top row of the input panel based on current input buffer."
+  "Compute the top row of the input panel based on current input text."
   (let* ((hpad 2)
          (inner-w (- chat-w (* 2 hpad)))
          (prompt-w (- inner-w 2))
-         (text (input-string))
-         (lines (word-wrap text prompt-w))
+         (text (cl-tty.input:text-input-value (st :text-input)))
+         (lines (cl-tty.box:word-wrap text prompt-w))
          (n-lines (max 1 (length lines)))
          (panel-rows (max 4 (+ n-lines 2))))
     (- h 4 panel-rows -1)))
-
+#+end_src
 
 ;; Build simple tab-like blocks
 #+BEGIN_SRC lisp :tangle /home/user/.local/share/passepartout/lisp/channel-tui-view.lisp
@@ -204,16 +204,17 @@ Returns a list of strings, one per line."
          (chat-w (- w sidebar-w))
          (inner-w (- chat-w (* 2 hpad)))
          (prompt-w (- inner-w 2))
-         (text (input-string))
-         (pos (or (st :cursor-pos) 0))
-         (lines (word-wrap text prompt-w))
+         (input (st :text-input))
+         (text (cl-tty.input:text-input-value input))
+         (pos (cl-tty.input:text-input-cursor input))
+         (lines (cl-tty.box:word-wrap text prompt-w))
          (n-lines (max 1 (length lines)))
           (panel-rows (max 4 (+ n-lines 2)))
           (panel-top (input-panel-top chat-w h))
          (bg-i (theme-color :bg-input))
          (input-fg (theme-color :input-fg))
          (hint-fg (theme-color :hint)))
-    ;; Fill input panel: panel-top to h-4, indented by hpad
+    ;; Fill input panel
     (cl-tty.backend:draw-rect fb hpad panel-top inner-w panel-rows :bg bg-i)
     ;; Speaker lines for all input rows
     (dotimes (r panel-rows)
@@ -226,11 +227,15 @@ Returns a list of strings, one per line."
                (len (length line)))
           (when (>= row (- h 4)) (return))
           (cl-tty.backend:draw-text fb (+ hpad 2) row line input-fg nil)
-          (when (and (>= pos accum) (<= pos (+ accum len)))
+          (when (and (>= pos accum) (or (< pos (+ accum len)) (= i (1- n-lines))))
             (setf cursor-line i
                   cursor-col (- pos accum)))
           (incf accum (1+ len))))
-    ;; Hint bar at h-2: F:/MCP: on left, token gauge + keybindings on right
+      ;; Draw block cursor at insertion point
+      (let* ((cx (+ hpad 2 cursor-col))
+             (cy (+ panel-top 1 cursor-line)))
+        (cl-tty.backend:draw-text fb cx cy "█" :bright-white nil)))
+    ;; Hint bar at h-2
     (let* ((focal (or (st :foveal-id) "-"))
            (focal-str (format nil "F:~a" focal))
            (mcp-str (format nil "MCP:~d" (or (st :mcp-count) 0)))
@@ -251,7 +256,7 @@ Returns a list of strings, one per line."
            (ctx-x (- hint-x 1 (length ctx-str))))
       (cl-tty.backend:draw-text fb hpad (- h 2) left-str hint-fg (theme-color :bg))
       (cl-tty.backend:draw-text fb ctx-x (- h 2) ctx-str ctx-fg (theme-color :bg))
-      (cl-tty.backend:draw-text fb hint-x (- h 2) hint-str hint-fg (theme-color :bg))))))
+      (cl-tty.backend:draw-text fb hint-x (- h 2) hint-str hint-fg (theme-color :bg)))))
 #+end_src
 
 ** Sidebar
@@ -331,39 +336,19 @@ Returns a list of strings, one per line."
   (setq w (or (and (numberp w) (> w 0) w) 80)
         h (or (and (numberp h) (> h 0) h) 24))
   (when (or (first (st :dirty)) (second (st :dirty)) (third (st :dirty)))
-    (cl-tty.backend:begin-sync fb)
-    (cl-tty.backend:draw-rect fb 0 0 w h :bg (theme-color :bg))
-    (view-status fb w h)
-    (view-chat fb w h)
-    (view-input fb w h)
-    (when (sidebar-visible-p w)
-      (view-sidebar fb w h))
-    (cl-tty.backend:end-sync fb)
-    (setf (st :dirty) (list nil nil nil))))
+    (handler-case
+        (progn
+          (cl-tty.backend:with-frame (fb)
+            (cl-tty.backend:draw-rect fb 0 0 w h :bg (theme-color :bg))
+            (view-status fb w h)
+            (view-chat fb w h)
+            (view-input fb w h)
+            (when (sidebar-visible-p w)
+              (view-sidebar fb w h)))
+          (setf (st :dirty) (list nil nil nil)))
+      (error (c)
+        (add-msg :system (format nil "* Render error: ~a *" c))))))
 
-(defun position-cursor (fb w h)
-  "Draw cursor at the input insertion point using reverse video (Emacs-style).
-
-  The character under the cursor is redrawn with foreground and background
-  swapped. If the cursor is past the end of the input string, a reversed
-  space is drawn."
-  (let* ((sw (if (sidebar-visible-p w) (or (st :sidebar-width) 42) 0))
-         (cw (- w sw))
-         (hpad 2)
-         (text (input-string))
-         (text-len (length text))
-         (pos (or (st :cursor-pos) 0))
-         (prompt-w (- cw (* 2 hpad) 2))
-         (display-start (max 0 (- pos (1- prompt-w))))
-         (cx (+ hpad 2 (- pos display-start)))
-         (cy (- h 6))
-         (bg-i (theme-color :bg-input))
-         (input-fg (theme-color :input-fg)))
-    (if (< pos text-len)
-        (let ((ch (char text pos)))
-          (cl-tty.backend:draw-text fb cx cy (string ch) bg-i input-fg))
-        (cl-tty.backend:draw-text fb cx cy " " bg-i input-fg))
-    (finish-output (cl-tty.backend::backend-output-stream fb))))
 #+END_SRC
 
 * Implementation — v0.7.0 additions
diff --git a/passepartout b/passepartout
index d0fb31d..23ec788 100755
--- a/passepartout
+++ b/passepartout
@@ -395,11 +395,10 @@ case "$COMMAND" in
         stty -icanon -echo -ixon 2>/dev/null || true
         # Ensure COLORTERM is set for modern backend detection
         export COLORTERM="${COLORTERM:-truecolor}"
-        # Clear stale cache
-        find ~/.cache/common-lisp -name "*.fasl" -path "*passepartout*" -o -name "*.fasl" -path "*cl-tty*" -delete 2>/dev/null
         sbcl --noinform \
             --load "$HOME/quicklisp/setup.lisp" \
             --eval '(push (truename "'"$PASSEPARTOUT_DATA_DIR"'/") asdf:*central-registry*)' \
+            --eval '(setf *debugger-hook* nil uiop:*compile-file-failure-behaviour* :warn)' \
             --eval '(ql:quickload :passepartout/tui)' \
             --eval '(in-package :passepartout)' \
             --eval '(passepartout.channel-tui:tui-main)'