diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.test.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.test.tsx
index 9ec371a255..0d67b5403e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.test.tsx
@@ -122,6 +122,96 @@ describe('KeypressContext - Kitty Protocol', () => {
       );
     });
 
+    it('rewrites macOS composed Option+t glyph "†" to Alt+t', () => {
+      const originalPlatform = process.platform;
+      Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', {
+        value: 'darwin',
+        configurable: true,
+        writable: true,
+      });
+      try {
+        const keyHandler = vi.fn();
+
+        const { result } = renderHook(() => useKeypressContext(), {
+          wrapper,
+        });
+
+        act(() => {
+          result.current.subscribe(keyHandler);
+        });
+
+        act(() => {
+          stdin.pressKey({
+            name: '',
+            ctrl: false,
+            meta: false,
+            shift: false,
+            paste: false,
+            sequence: '†',
+          });
+        });
+
+        expect(keyHandler).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          expect.objectContaining({
+            name: 't',
+            meta: true,
+            sequence: '†',
+          }),
+        );
+      } finally {
+        Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', {
+          value: originalPlatform,
+          configurable: true,
+          writable: true,
+        });
+      }
+    });
+
+    it('leaves "†" untouched on non-macOS platforms', () => {
+      const originalPlatform = process.platform;
+      Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', {
+        value: 'linux',
+        configurable: true,
+        writable: true,
+      });
+      try {
+        const keyHandler = vi.fn();
+
+        const { result } = renderHook(() => useKeypressContext(), {
+          wrapper,
+        });
+
+        act(() => {
+          result.current.subscribe(keyHandler);
+        });
+
+        act(() => {
+          stdin.pressKey({
+            name: '',
+            ctrl: false,
+            meta: false,
+            shift: false,
+            paste: false,
+            sequence: '†',
+          });
+        });
+
+        expect(keyHandler).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          expect.objectContaining({
+            name: '',
+            meta: false,
+            sequence: '†',
+          }),
+        );
+      } finally {
+        Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', {
+          value: originalPlatform,
+          configurable: true,
+          writable: true,
+        });
+      }
+    });
+
     it('should recognize regular enter key (keycode 13) in kitty protocol', async () => {
       const keyHandler = vi.fn();
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.tsx
index e7dd1fe013..9f9ecb79b3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/KeypressContext.tsx
@@ -46,6 +46,15 @@ import { clipboardHasImage } from '../utils/clipboardUtils.js';
 import { FOCUS_IN, FOCUS_OUT } from '../hooks/useFocus.js';
 
 const ESC = '\u001B';
+// On macOS, when the terminal's Option key is in its default "compose
+// character" mode (iTerm2 "Normal", VS Code without macOptionIsMeta), Option+t
+// is delivered to the app as the dagger glyph "†" (U+2020) with no modifier
+// metadata — so there is no way to tell Option was held. Terminals that speak
+// the Kitty keyboard protocol (e.g. Ghostty) instead report a real Alt+t event,
+// which is why the shortcut already works there. We treat a lone "†" as Alt+t so
+// the "expand thinking" shortcut works everywhere without requiring users to
+// reconfigure their terminal. See handleKeypress for where this is applied.
+const OPTION_T_COMPOSED_GLYPH = '†';
 export const PASTE_MODE_PREFIX = `${ESC}[200~`;
 export const PASTE_MODE_SUFFIX = `${ESC}[201~`;
 export const DRAG_COMPLETION_TIMEOUT_MS = 100; // Broadcast full path after 100ms if no more input
@@ -1048,6 +1057,22 @@ export function KeypressProvider({
       if (key.name === 'return' && key.sequence === `${ESC}\r`) {
         key.meta = true;
       }
+
+      // macOS "Option as compose character" terminals turn Option+t into the
+      // bare glyph "†" (U+2020) with no modifier metadata. Rewrite it to a
+      // synthetic Alt+t so the "expand thinking" shortcut fires; the meta flag
+      // also stops the glyph from being inserted into the input buffer (the
+      // text buffer skips printable input when meta/ctrl is set), so it looks
+      // exactly like Alt was pressed.
+      if (
+        process.platform === 'darwin' &&
+        !isPaste &&
+        key.sequence === OPTION_T_COMPOSED_GLYPH
+      ) {
+        key.name = 't';
+        key.meta = true;
+      }
+
       broadcast({ ...key, paste: isPaste });
     };