diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.test.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.test.tsx
index c28cd9525..d69bada5b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.test.tsx
@@ -1335,6 +1335,40 @@ describe('KeypressContext - Kitty Protocol', () => {
     );
   });
 
+  describe('Printable CSI-u keys', () => {
+    it('parses kitty CSI-u space as a space key with literal sequence', () => {
+      const keyHandler = vi.fn();
+      const { result } = renderHook(() => useKeypressContext(), { wrapper });
+      act(() => result.current.subscribe(keyHandler));
+
+      act(() => stdin.sendKittySequence(`\x1b[32u`));
+
+      expect(keyHandler).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          name: 'space',
+          sequence: ' ',
+          kittyProtocol: true,
+        }),
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('parses kitty CSI-u printable letters as literal input', () => {
+      const keyHandler = vi.fn();
+      const { result } = renderHook(() => useKeypressContext(), { wrapper });
+      act(() => result.current.subscribe(keyHandler));
+
+      act(() => stdin.sendKittySequence(`\x1b[100u`)); // 'd'
+
+      expect(keyHandler).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          name: 'd',
+          sequence: 'd',
+          kittyProtocol: true,
+        }),
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('Shift+Tab forms', () => {
     it.each([
       { sequence: `\x1b[Z`, description: 'legacy reverse Tab' },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.tsx
index 13e51ece3..3a2a0214c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.tsx
@@ -330,6 +330,36 @@ export function KeypressProvider({
           };
         }
 
+        // Printable CSI-u keys (including space) should behave like regular
+        // character input so downstream text inputs receive the literal char.
+        if (
+          terminator === 'u' &&
+          !ctrl &&
+          keyCode >= 32 &&
+          keyCode !== 127 &&
+          keyCode <= 0x10ffff
+        ) {
+          const char = String.fromCodePoint(keyCode);
+          const printableName =
+            char === ' '
+              ? 'space'
+              : /^[A-Za-z]$/.test(char)
+                ? char.toLowerCase()
+                : char;
+          return {
+            key: {
+              name: printableName,
+              ctrl: false,
+              meta: alt,
+              shift,
+              paste: false,
+              sequence: char,
+              kittyProtocol: true,
+            },
+            length: m[0].length,
+          };
+        }
+
         // Ctrl+letters
         if (
           ctrl &&