diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 03749bba..c0440753 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+# Unreleased
+
+- Key bindings for `ctrl_i` and `ctrl_[` in the config file are no longer
+  ignored and are now synonymous with `tab` and `esc`. (#444)
+- The keystrokes `ctrl_h` and `backspace` can now be distinguished, which
+  allows the user to define separate key bindings in the config file. (#445)
+
 # 2025/01/01: 0.13.0
 
 - Improve nick matching to avoid highlighting message incorrectly. (#430)
diff --git a/crates/libtiny_tui/src/key_map.rs b/crates/libtiny_tui/src/key_map.rs
index 02ba4bcb..4a3cf347 100644
--- a/crates/libtiny_tui/src/key_map.rs
+++ b/crates/libtiny_tui/src/key_map.rs
@@ -212,7 +212,18 @@ impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for MappedKey {
                             } else if let Some(f_key) = parse_f_key(k2) {
                                 Key::CtrlF(f_key)
                             } else {
-                                Key::Ctrl(single_key(k2)?)
+                                match single_key(k2)? {
+                                    // NOTE: The following special mappings are needed
+                                    // because, e.g., `Key::Ctrl('i')` is never generated
+                                    // by `term_input` since `ctrl_i` and `tab` send
+                                    // identical bytes and hence cannot be distinguished
+                                    // in a terminal app. Having the special mapping here
+                                    // allows the user to define a working key binding for
+                                    // `ctrl_i`, which would otherwise be ignored.
+                                    'i' => Key::Tab,
+                                    '[' => Key::Esc,
+                                    other => Key::Ctrl(other),
+                                }
                             }
                         }
                         "shift" => {