diff --git a/tools/tui/readline/actions.go b/tools/tui/readline/actions.go
index 16181e2c0..ea0c22a85 100644
--- a/tools/tui/readline/actions.go
+++ b/tools/tui/readline/actions.go
@@ -258,3 +258,25 @@ func (self *Readline) erase_chars_after_cursor(amt uint, traverse_line_breaks bo
 	self.erase_between(pos, self.cursor)
 	return num
 }
+
+func (self *Readline) perform_action(ac Action, repeat_count uint) bool {
+	switch ac {
+	case ActionBackspace:
+		return self.erase_chars_before_cursor(repeat_count, true) > 0
+	case ActionDelete:
+		return self.erase_chars_after_cursor(repeat_count, true) > 0
+	case ActionMoveToStartOfLine:
+		return self.move_to_start_of_line()
+	case ActionMoveToEndOfLine:
+		return self.move_to_end_of_line()
+	case ActionMoveToStartOfDocument:
+		return self.move_to_start()
+	case ActionMoveToEndOfDocument:
+		return self.move_to_end()
+	case ActionCursorLeft:
+		return self.move_cursor_left(repeat_count, true) > 0
+	case ActionCursorRight:
+		return self.move_cursor_right(repeat_count, true) > 0
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/tools/tui/readline/api.go b/tools/tui/readline/api.go
index 72eb13ed2..4ed4fe062 100644
--- a/tools/tui/readline/api.go
+++ b/tools/tui/readline/api.go
@@ -30,6 +30,20 @@ func (self Position) Less(other Position) bool {
 	return self.Y < other.Y || (self.Y == other.Y && self.X < other.X)
 }
 
+type Action uint
+
+const (
+	ActionNil Action = iota
+	ActionBackspace
+	ActionDelete
+	ActionMoveToStartOfLine
+	ActionMoveToEndOfLine
+	ActionMoveToStartOfDocument
+	ActionMoveToEndOfDocument
+	ActionCursorLeft
+	ActionCursorRight
+)
+
 type Readline struct {
 	prompt                  string
 	prompt_len              int
@@ -97,3 +111,7 @@ func (self *Readline) OnText(text string, from_key_event bool, in_bracketed_past
 	self.add_text(text)
 	return nil
 }
+
+func (self *Readline) PerformAction(ac Action, repeat_count uint) bool {
+	return self.perform_action(ac, repeat_count)
+}
diff --git a/tools/tui/readline/keys.go b/tools/tui/readline/keys.go
index 0546b178f..9cbd90a73 100644
--- a/tools/tui/readline/keys.go
+++ b/tools/tui/readline/keys.go
@@ -10,9 +10,34 @@ import (
 
 var _ = fmt.Print
 
+var default_shortcuts = map[string]Action{
+	"backspace": ActionBackspace,
+	"delete":    ActionDelete,
+	"home":      ActionMoveToStartOfLine,
+	"end":       ActionMoveToEndOfLine,
+	"ctrl+home": ActionMoveToStartOfDocument,
+	"ctrl+end":  ActionMoveToEndOfDocument,
+	"left":      ActionCursorLeft,
+	"right":     ActionCursorRight,
+}
+
+func action_for_key_event(event *loop.KeyEvent, shortcuts map[string]Action) Action {
+	for sc, ac := range shortcuts {
+		if event.MatchesPressOrRepeat(sc) {
+			return ac
+		}
+	}
+	return ActionNil
+}
+
 func (self *Readline) handle_key_event(event *loop.KeyEvent) error {
 	if event.Text != "" {
 		return nil
 	}
+	ac := action_for_key_event(event, default_shortcuts)
+	if ac != ActionNil {
+		event.Handled = true
+		self.perform_action(ac, 1)
+	}
 	return nil
 }