diff --git a/terminal/TerminalWidget.cpp b/terminal/TerminalWidget.cpp
index 792938bb..a55274f9 100644
--- a/terminal/TerminalWidget.cpp
+++ b/terminal/TerminalWidget.cpp
@@ -88,7 +88,11 @@ Result<void> TerminalWidget::init(char* const* args)
 
 Result<ui::EventResult> TerminalWidget::handle_key_event(const ui::KeyEventRequest& request)
 {
+    // Avoid handling "key released" events
     if (!request.pressed) return ui::EventResult::DidNotHandle;
+    // Non-printable key or key that has no special character (unlike Tab or Enter). We exit early to avoid inserting an
+    // invalid zero byte into the terminal input (this would also happen on Shift or Ctrl keypresses).
+    if (request.letter == '\0') return ui::EventResult::DidNotHandle;
 
     query_termios();