diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index b6fd62e76012390438f210e026c5fb21814be7b3..60ec948c38e2dc3eeb9d72fd824743eb84e885fb 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -1764,6 +1764,10 @@ const sc *get_shortcut(int *kbinput)
 				*kbinput, meta_key ? "TRUE" : "FALSE");
 #endif
 
+    /* Plain characters cannot be shortcuts, so just skip those. */
+    if (!meta_key && (*kbinput & 0x7F) >= 0x20 && *kbinput <= 0xFF)
+	return NULL;
+
     for (s = sclist; s != NULL; s = s->next) {
 	if ((s->menus & currmenu) && *kbinput == s->keycode &&
 					meta_key == s->meta) {