diff --git a/clients/terminal.c b/clients/terminal.c
index ec0f1de5..e372d4cc 100644
--- a/clients/terminal.c
+++ b/clients/terminal.c
@@ -2148,6 +2148,8 @@ key_handler(struct window *window, struct input *input, uint32_t time,
 		break;
 
 	case XKB_KEY_BackSpace:
+		if (modifiers & MOD_ALT_MASK)
+			ch[len++] = 0x1b;
 		ch[len++] = 0x7f;
 		break;
 	case XKB_KEY_Tab: