diff --git a/src/tui/light.go b/src/tui/light.go
index 4f5ec4d5..eca6d44f 100644
--- a/src/tui/light.go
+++ b/src/tui/light.go
@@ -348,17 +348,100 @@ func getEnv(name string, defaultValue int) int {
 func csiContinues(b byte) bool { return b >= 0x20 && b <= 0x3f }
 func csiFinal(b byte) bool     { return b >= 0x40 && b <= 0x7e }
 
+// csiEnd returns the length of the CSI sequence at the start of the buffer, or
+// 0 if it has no final byte yet or is malformed.
+func csiEnd(buffer []byte) int {
+	for i := 2; i < len(buffer); i++ {
+		if csiFinal(buffer[i]) {
+			return i + 1
+		}
+		if !csiContinues(buffer[i]) {
+			return 0
+		}
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+// stringEnd returns the length of the string sequence (DCS, OSC or APC) at the
+// start of the buffer, up to and including whatever ended it. It returns 0 while
+// nothing has ended it, and also when the terminator comes straight after the
+// introducer: no terminal sends an empty string sequence, so that means the
+// introducer was ALT-], ALT-P or ALT-_ with a sequence of its own behind it, and
+// framing it would swallow the ALT key.
+func stringEnd(buffer []byte) int {
+	if len(buffer) < 2 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	// Every one of them ends with ST. BEL ends an OSC as well, because xterm has
+	// always allowed it, but stopping at a BEL inside a DCS or APC payload would
+	// frame only its first half and leave the rest to be typed into the query.
+	bel := buffer[1] == ']'
+	for i := 2; i < len(buffer); i++ {
+		switch buffer[i] {
+		case '\a':
+			if bel {
+				if i == 2 {
+					return 0 // empty
+				}
+				return i + 1
+			}
+		case Esc.Byte():
+			if i+1 == len(buffer) {
+				return 0 // ST may still be arriving
+			}
+			if i == 2 {
+				return 0 // empty
+			}
+			if buffer[i+1] == '\\' {
+				return i + 2
+			}
+			// Any other ESC ends the string and introduces a sequence of its
+			// own, so frame only what precedes it and leave the ESC to be
+			// parsed again. Scanning past it would swallow that sequence too.
+			return i
+		}
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+// stringIntroducer reports whether the byte after ESC starts a string sequence.
+// Only the three that terminals actually reply with: OSC for colors, title and
+// clipboard, DCS for XTVERSION and XTGETTCAP, APC for Kitty graphics. SOS and PM
+// are left out, as nothing sends them and waiting for a terminator that will
+// never come would delay ALT-X and ALT-^.
+func stringIntroducer(b byte) bool {
+	switch b {
+	case 'P', ']', '_':
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 // incompleteEscape reports whether the buffer ends in an escape sequence that
-// has not been terminated yet. The read loop keeps waiting in that case, so the
-// parser is never handed a fragment to guess at.
+// has not been terminated yet. The read loop keeps waiting while it does, so a
+// fragment reaches the parser only once that wait has run out.
 func incompleteEscape(buffer []byte) bool {
 	// Only the tail can hold a sequence still arriving. This runs once per byte
 	// read, so scanning all of a large paste would make the read quadratic.
+	//
+	// The limit is that a string sequence with a payload longer than this stops
+	// being seen as unfinished, so one that is also split across reads reaches
+	// the parser incomplete and its payload is typed into the query. Recognizing
+	// it would mean tracking the open sequence across reads instead of
+	// rescanning the tail.
 	tail := buffer
 	if len(tail) > escapeLookback {
 		tail = tail[len(tail)-escapeLookback:]
 	}
 	start := bytes.LastIndexByte(tail, Esc.Byte())
+	// A trailing ESC can be the first half of a string terminator. Reading it as
+	// a lone ESC ends the wait and hands the parser an unterminated sequence, so
+	// fall back to the one this ESC would have terminated.
+	if start == len(tail)-1 && start > 0 {
+		if prev := bytes.LastIndexByte(tail[:start], Esc.Byte()); prev >= 0 {
+			start = prev
+		}
+	}
 	if start < 0 || len(tail)-start < 2 {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -376,6 +459,9 @@ func incompleteEscape(buffer []byte) bool {
 	case 'O':
 		return len(tail)-start < 3
 	}
+	if stringIntroducer(tail[start+1]) {
+		return stringEnd(tail[start:]) == 0
+	}
 	return false
 }
 
@@ -483,8 +569,10 @@ func (r *LightRenderer) GetChar(cancellable bool) Event {
 		return Event{CtrlSlash, 0, nil}
 	case Esc.Byte():
 		ev := r.escSequence(&sz)
-		// Second chance
-		if ev.Type == Invalid {
+		// Second chance, but only for a sequence that has not finished
+		// arriving. Re-reading after a complete one blocks until the next
+		// keystroke, holding back whatever follows it in the buffer.
+		if ev.Type == Invalid && incompleteEscape(r.buffer) {
 			r.buffer, result, err = r.getBytes(true)
 			if err != nil {
 				return Event{Fatal, 0, nil}
@@ -525,7 +613,24 @@ func (r *LightRenderer) setCancel(f func()) {
 	r.mutex.Unlock()
 }
 
+// escSequence parses an escape sequence, widening a CSI sequence that
+// parseEscSequence recognized the start of but gave up on partway. Consuming
+// only the part that parsed would leave the rest to be read as input and typed
+// into the query. Sequences that match nothing at all are dropped there instead.
 func (r *LightRenderer) escSequence(sz *int) Event {
+	ev := r.parseEscSequence(sz)
+	if ev.Type != Invalid || len(r.buffer) < 3 || r.buffer[1] != '[' {
+		return ev
+	}
+	// Only a framed sequence is dropped. One still missing its final byte may
+	// yet be arriving, and the caller gives it another chance.
+	if end := csiEnd(r.buffer); end > *sz {
+		*sz = end
+	}
+	return ev
+}
+
+func (r *LightRenderer) parseEscSequence(sz *int) Event {
 	if len(r.buffer) < 2 {
 		return Event{Esc, 0, nil}
 	}
@@ -987,6 +1092,23 @@ func (r *LightRenderer) escSequence(sz *int) Event {
 			} // r.buffer[2]
 		} // r.buffer[2]
 	} // r.buffer[1]
+	// Nothing matched. A framed sequence is dropped whole: reading its
+	// introducer as an ALT-key below would type the rest into the query.
+	// Unterminated ones are left alone, as that is how ALT-[, ALT-], ALT-P and
+	// ALT-_ arrive.
+	if r.buffer[1] == '[' {
+		// A bare "\e[c" is ALT-[ followed by a character, not a CSI sequence
+		if end := csiEnd(r.buffer); end > 3 {
+			*sz = end
+			return Event{Invalid, 0, nil}
+		}
+	} else if stringIntroducer(r.buffer[1]) {
+		if end := stringEnd(r.buffer); end > 0 {
+			*sz = end
+			return Event{Invalid, 0, nil}
+		}
+	}
+
 	rest := bytes.NewBuffer(r.buffer[1:])
 	c, size, err := rest.ReadRune()
 	if err == nil {
diff --git a/src/tui/light_csi_test.go b/src/tui/light_csi_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ac6f9fc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tui/light_csi_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+package tui
+
+import "testing"
+
+// An unrecognized escape sequence must be consumed whole, CSI and string
+// sequences alike. Consuming only part of one leaves the rest to be read as
+// input and typed into the query.
+func TestUnknownEscapeSequence(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		sequence string
+		event    EventType
+		size     int
+	}{
+		// Key encodings fzf does not implement
+		{"\x1b[97;5u", Invalid, 7},
+		{"\x1b[127;5u", Invalid, 8},
+		{"\x1b[27;5;127~", Invalid, 11},
+		{"\x1b[57441;1u", Invalid, 10},
+		{"\x1b\x1b[97;5u", Invalid, 7}, // ALT prefixed, the first ESC is dropped
+
+		// Replies to queries fzf did not send, or sent and stopped waiting for
+		{"\x1b[?1;2c", Invalid, 7},
+		{"\x1b[>0;95;0c", Invalid, 10},
+
+		// Mouse report arriving while mouse input is off
+		{"\x1b[<0;1;1M", Invalid, 9},
+
+		// String sequences
+		{"\x1b]11;rgb:4a4a/4a4a/4a4a\x1b\\", Invalid, 25}, // background color reply
+		{"\x1b]0;a title\a", Invalid, 12},                 // BEL terminated
+		{"\x1bP>|kitty(0.48.2)\x1b\\", Invalid, 19},       // XTVERSION reply
+		{"\x1b_Gi=1;OK\x1b\\", Invalid, 11},               // Kitty graphics reply
+		{"\x1bP\ax\x1b\\", Invalid, 6},                    // BEL is payload in a DCS
+		{"\x1b]foo\x1bX\x1b\\", Invalid, 5},               // ESC ends it, framing "\e]foo"
+
+		// Left alone: this is how ALT-[, ALT-], ALT-P and ALT-_ arrive
+		{"\x1b[a", Alt, 2},
+		{"\x1b]abc", Alt, 2},
+		{"\x1b]11;rgb:", Alt, 2}, // terminator has not arrived
+		{"\x1b]\x1b]", Alt, 2},   // a second sequence must not swallow the ALT key
+		{"\x1b]\x1b[A", Alt, 2},
+		{"\x1bP\x1bP", Alt, 2},
+		{"\x1b_\x1b_", Alt, 2},
+		{"\x1b]\x1b\\", Alt, 2}, // ALT-] then ALT-backslash, not an empty OSC
+		{"\x1b]\a", Alt, 2},     // ALT-] then CTRL-G, which must still abort
+
+		// SOS and PM are not framed, so ALT-X and ALT-^ are not delayed
+		{"\x1bXsos\x1b\\", Alt, 2},
+		{"\x1b^status\x1b\\", Alt, 2},
+
+		// Left alone: no final byte yet, so the sequence may still be arriving
+		{"\x1b[", Invalid, 2},
+
+		// Recognized sequences keep their existing parsing
+		{"\x1b[1;5A", CtrlUp, 6},
+		{"\x1b[3;5~", CtrlDelete, 6},
+		{"\x1b[2~", Insert, 4},
+		{"\x1b[200~", BracketedPasteBegin, 6},
+		{"\x1b[Z", ShiftTab, 3},
+		{"\x1bOA", Up, 3},
+		{"\x1b[12;34R", Invalid, 8},
+		{"\x1b[?2004;2$y", Invalid, 11},
+	} {
+		r := &LightRenderer{buffer: []byte(c.sequence)}
+		sz := 1
+		event := r.escSequence(&sz)
+		if event.Type != c.event {
+			t.Errorf("escSequence(%q) = %s, want %s",
+				c.sequence, event.Type.String(), c.event.String())
+		}
+		if sz != c.size {
+			t.Errorf("escSequence(%q) consumed %d bytes, want %d", c.sequence, sz, c.size)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStringEnd(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		buffer string
+		want   int
+	}{
+		// Terminated
+		{"\x1b]0;t\a", 6},
+		{"\x1b]0;t\x1b\\", 7},
+		{"\x1b_G\x1b\\", 5},
+		{"\x1bP\ax\x1b\\", 6}, // BEL is payload in a DCS, ST ends it
+
+		// BEL terminates an OSC only
+		{"\x1bP\a", 0},
+		{"\x1b_Gi=1\a", 0},
+
+		// An ESC ends the string and introduces a sequence of its own
+		{"\x1b]foo\x1bX\x1b\\", 5},
+		{"\x1b]foo\x1bP", 5},
+
+		// Nothing has ended it yet
+		{"\x1b]0;t", 0},
+		{"\x1b]0;t\x1b", 0}, // ST half arrived
+		{"\x1b]foo\x1b", 0},
+		{"\x1b]", 0},
+		{"\x1b", 0}, // shorter than an introducer
+
+		// Empty, so the introducer was an ALT key and not a reply
+		{"\x1b]\x1b]", 0},
+		{"\x1b]\x1b[A", 0},
+		{"\x1b]\x1b\\", 0},
+		{"\x1b]\a", 0},
+		{"\x1bP\x1bP", 0},
+		{"\x1b_\x1b_", 0},
+	} {
+		if got := stringEnd([]byte(c.buffer)); got != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("stringEnd(%q) = %d, want %d", c.buffer, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCsiEnd(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		buffer string
+		want   int
+	}{
+		{"\x1b[97;5u", 7},
+		{"\x1b[A", 3},
+		{"\x1b[<0;1;1M", 9},
+		{"\x1b[?2004;2$y", 11},
+		{"\x1b[97;5", 0},   // no final byte
+		{"\x1b[", 0},       // no final byte
+		{"\x1b[1\x01A", 0}, // malformed, do not frame it
+	} {
+		if got := csiEnd([]byte(c.buffer)); got != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("csiEnd(%q) = %d, want %d", c.buffer, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/tui/light_escape_test.go b/src/tui/light_escape_test.go
index f83d3ac4..70bd0a63 100644
--- a/src/tui/light_escape_test.go
+++ b/src/tui/light_escape_test.go
@@ -51,3 +51,35 @@ func TestIncompleteEscape(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// String sequences must be waited for until their terminator arrives
+func TestIncompleteStringEscape(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		buffer string
+		want   bool
+	}{
+		{"\x1b]11;rgb:", true},
+		{"\x1bP>|kitty", true},
+		{"\x1b_Gi=1", true},
+		{"\x1b]0;title\a", false},
+		{"\x1b]0;title\x1b\\", false},
+		{"\x1bP>|kitty(0.48.2)\x1b\\", false},
+		{"ab\x1b]11;rgb:", true},
+
+		// A string terminator split across reads: the ESC has arrived, the
+		// backslash has not
+		{"\x1b]0;t\x1b", true},
+		{"\x1bP>|kitty\x1b", true},
+		{"\x1b_G\x1b", true},
+
+		// Complete sequence followed by a lone ESC, which is the ESC key
+		{"\x1b]0;title\a\x1b", false},
+		{"\x1b\x1b", false},
+		{"\x1ba\x1b", false},
+		{"\x1b[A\x1b", false},
+	} {
+		if got := incompleteEscape([]byte(c.buffer)); got != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("incompleteEscape(%q) = %v, want %v", c.buffer, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}