diff --git a/src/backend/gdi.c b/src/backend/gdi.c
index a6c2027..65d193b 100644
--- a/src/backend/gdi.c
+++ b/src/backend/gdi.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ static LRESULT CALLBACK wndproc(HWND hWnd, UINT msg, WPARAM wp, LPARAM lp) {
 		p.y = HIWORD(lp);
 
 		SetCapture(hWnd);
+		SetFocus(hWnd);
 		MwLLDispatch(u->ll, down, &p);
 	} else if(msg == WM_LBUTTONUP) {
 		MwPoint p;
@@ -71,6 +72,10 @@ static LRESULT CALLBACK wndproc(HWND hWnd, UINT msg, WPARAM wp, LPARAM lp) {
 		PostQuitMessage(0);
 	} else if(msg == WM_CLOSE) {
 		DestroyWindow(hWnd);
+	} else if(msg == WM_CHAR) {
+		int n = wp;
+
+		MwLLDispatch(u->ll, key, &n);
 	} else {
 		return (u->old == NULL) ? DefWindowProc(hWnd, msg, wp, lp) : CallWindowProc(u->old, hWnd, msg, wp, lp);
 	}
@@ -389,3 +394,8 @@ void MwLLDetach(MwLL handle, MwPoint* point) {
 
 	SetWindowLongPtr(handle->hWnd, GWL_STYLE, style);
 }
+
+void MwLLShow(MwLL handle, int show) {
+	ShowWindow(handle->hWnd, show ? SW_NORMAL : SW_HIDE);
+	if(show) SetFocus(handle->hWnd);
+}
diff --git a/src/backend/x11.c b/src/backend/x11.c
index b9c3aea..f1bea80 100644
--- a/src/backend/x11.c
+++ b/src/backend/x11.c
@@ -185,15 +185,18 @@ void MwLLNextEvent(MwLL handle) {
 			int    n;
 			KeySym sym = XLookupKeysym(&ev.xkey, 0);
 			char*  str = XKeysymToString(sym);
-			char   s   = str == NULL ? 0 : str[0];
+			/* HACK: this is bad, you can guess why */
+			if(strlen(str) == 1) {
+				char s = str == NULL ? 0 : str[0];
 
-			if(ev.xkey.state & (ShiftMask | LockMask)) {
-				n = toupper((int)s);
-			} else {
-				n = s;
+				if(ev.xkey.state & (ShiftMask | LockMask)) {
+					n = toupper((int)s);
+				} else {
+					n = s;
+				}
+
+				MwLLDispatch(handle, key, &n);
 			}
-
-			MwLLDispatch(handle, key, &n);
 		}
 		if(render) {
 			int	     x, y;
diff --git a/src/widget/text.c b/src/widget/text.c
index bf8aecb..83c739e 100644
--- a/src/widget/text.c
+++ b/src/widget/text.c
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ static void draw(MwWidget handle) {
 	MwLLFreeColor(base);
 }
 
+static void key(MwWidget handle, int code) {
+	printf("%c\n", code);
+}
+
 MwClassRec MwTextClassRec = {
     create,	   /* create */
     NULL,	   /* destroy */
@@ -34,7 +38,7 @@ MwClassRec MwTextClassRec = {
     NULL,	   /* mouse_move */
     MwForceRender, /* mouse_up */
     MwForceRender, /* mouse_down */
-    NULL,	   /* key */
+    key,	   /* key */
     NULL,
     NULL,
     NULL,