diff --git a/input-keys.c b/input-keys.c
index 516a349f..353c38af 100644
--- a/input-keys.c
+++ b/input-keys.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* $Id: input-keys.c,v 1.40 2009-11-08 23:02:56 tcunha Exp $ */
+/* $Id: input-keys.c,v 1.41 2009-11-08 23:08:12 tcunha Exp $ */
 
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 2007 Nicholas Marriott <nicm@users.sourceforge.net>
@@ -173,9 +173,8 @@ input_key(struct window_pane *wp, int key)
 	 */
 	if (key != KEYC_NONE && (key & ~KEYC_ESCAPE) < 0x100) {
 		if (key & KEYC_ESCAPE)
-			ch = '\033';
-		else
-			ch = key & ~KEYC_ESCAPE;
+			bufferevent_write(wp->event, "\033", 1);
+		ch = key & ~KEYC_ESCAPE;
 		bufferevent_write(wp->event, &ch, 1);
 		return;
 	}