Vim mode: Ctrl-[ dismisses AskUserQuestion prompts instead of entering normal mode

Status Fixed / completed
Reported on v2.1.228
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 2 comments · opened Aug 12, 2026 · closed Aug 17, 2026

Description

With vim mode enabled, Ctrl-[ works as an Escape alias for entering normal
mode in the main prompt. Inside an AskUserQuestion selection prompt, it is
instead treated as a dismiss/cancel key, so the question is rejected and the
turn is interrupted.

For anyone with the Ctrl-[ habit this fires constantly and unintentionally —
the keypress is reflex, and the cost is a cancelled tool call plus a lost
answer.

Steps to reproduce

  1. Enable vim mode (/vim).
  2. Get Claude to ask a question via the multiple-choice question prompt.
  3. Press Ctrl-[ intending to enter normal mode.

Expected

Ctrl-[ behaves the same as it does in the main prompt — enters normal mode,
allowing j/k navigation of the options.

Actual

The question prompt is dismissed and the tool call is rejected.

Notes

Plain Escape dismissing the prompt seems reasonable; the issue is that
Ctrl-[ is bound to dismiss too, despite vim mode having claimed it as a
normal-mode trigger everywhere else. Either vim mode should own Ctrl-[
inside these prompts, or the two keys should be unbound from each other there.

Environment

  • Claude Code 2.1.228, vim mode enabled
  • Linux

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