diff --git a/web/src/reader/reader.ts b/web/src/reader/reader.ts
index 805e99b..2af8020 100644
--- a/web/src/reader/reader.ts
+++ b/web/src/reader/reader.ts
@@ -2493,11 +2493,18 @@ document.addEventListener("alpine:init", () => {
     },
     handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
       const k = event.key;
-      // Never hijack keys while the user is typing in a form control.
-      const tag = (event.target as HTMLElement)?.tagName;
+      // Never hijack keys while the user is typing in a form control: the
+      // field must receive h/l page turns, +/− zoom, and caret arrows.
+      // Escape stays live so popovers/drawers can still be dismissed from
+      // the keyboard even mid-note.
+      const t = event.target as HTMLElement | null;
       const typing =
-        tag === "INPUT" || tag === "SELECT" || tag === "TEXTAREA";
+        t?.tagName === "INPUT" ||
+        t?.tagName === "SELECT" ||
+        t?.tagName === "TEXTAREA" ||
+        !!t?.isContentEditable;
       this.pokeChrome();
+      if (typing && k !== "Escape") return;
       if (k === "ArrowLeft" || k === "h") {
         if (event.altKey) {
           event.preventDefault();
@@ -2526,7 +2533,7 @@ document.addEventListener("alpine:init", () => {
       } else if (k === "F1") {
         event.preventDefault();
         this.toggleHelp();
-      } else if (!typing) {
+      } else {
         if (k === "t") this.toggleTOC();
         else if (k === "s") this.toggleSettings();
         else if (k === "b") this.addBookmark();