diff --git a/src/app/input/navigate.rs b/src/app/input/navigate.rs
index fd6ef2732b..260c2f8471 100644
--- a/src/app/input/navigate.rs
+++ b/src/app/input/navigate.rs
@@ -125,10 +125,9 @@ impl App {
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn handle_navigate_key(&mut self, raw_key: TerminalKey) {
-        let key = raw_key.as_key_event();
         self.state.update_dismissed = true;
 
-        if key.code == KeyCode::Esc || self.state.is_prefix_key(&raw_key) {
+        if raw_key.code == KeyCode::Esc || self.state.is_prefix_key(&raw_key) {
             leave_navigate_mode(&mut self.state);
             return;
         }
@@ -177,6 +176,11 @@ impl App {
         if let Some(action) = navigate_mode_indexed_action_for_key(&self.state, &raw_key) {
             self.execute_tui_navigate_action(action, ActionContext::Navigate);
             self.selection_autoscroll_deadline = None;
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if is_ctrl_bracket_key(&raw_key) {
+            leave_navigate_mode(&mut self.state);
         }
     }
 
@@ -1367,13 +1371,18 @@ pub(crate) fn handle_navigate_key(state: &mut AppState, key: KeyEvent) {
         return;
     }
 
-    if let Some(action) = navigate_mode_action_for_key(state, terminal_key) {
+    if let Some(action) = navigate_mode_action_for_key(state, terminal_key.clone()) {
         execute_navigate_action_in_context(
             state,
             &mut terminal_runtimes,
             action,
             ActionContext::Navigate,
         );
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if is_ctrl_bracket_key(&terminal_key) {
+        leave_navigate_mode(state);
     }
 }
 
@@ -1893,6 +1902,20 @@ fn workspace_can_start_worktree_action(
     !git_space.is_some_and(|space| space.is_linked_worktree)
 }
 
+/// True for Ctrl+[, the terminal-level equivalent of Esc.
+///
+/// A legacy terminal sends Ctrl+[ as 0x1b, the same byte as Esc, so it already
+/// arrives as `KeyCode::Esc`. Under the kitty keyboard protocol, which Herdr
+/// negotiates, the modified key is reported on its own and reaches us as
+/// `Char('[')` with CONTROL. Ctrl+Shift+[ stays distinct because it carries
+/// SHIFT.
+///
+/// Callers check this only after navigate-mode keybinding dispatch, so a
+/// configured Ctrl+[ binding keeps working and this stays a fallback cancel.
+fn is_ctrl_bracket_key(key: &TerminalKey) -> bool {
+    key.code == KeyCode::Char('[') && key.modifiers == crossterm::event::KeyModifiers::CONTROL
+}
+
 // Translate a one-step move into the pre-removal insertion slot that
 // Workspace::move_tab expects, wrapping at either end. None when there is
 // nothing to move.
@@ -3160,6 +3183,46 @@ command = "printf literal > '{}'"
         assert_eq!(app.state.mode, Mode::Navigate);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn app_navigate_mode_ctrl_bracket_leaves_like_esc() {
+        let mut app = app_with_test_workspaces(&["one", "two"]);
+
+        app.state.mode = Mode::Navigate;
+        app.handle_navigate_key(TerminalKey::new(KeyCode::Char('['), KeyModifiers::CONTROL));
+        assert_eq!(app.state.mode, Mode::Terminal);
+
+        app.state.mode = Mode::Navigate;
+        app.handle_navigate_key(TerminalKey::new(KeyCode::Esc, KeyModifiers::empty()));
+        assert_eq!(app.state.mode, Mode::Terminal);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn app_navigate_mode_configured_ctrl_bracket_binding_wins_over_cancel() {
+        let mut app = app_with_test_workspaces(&["one", "two"]);
+        let config: Config =
+            toml::from_str("[keys]\nnavigate_workspace_down = \"ctrl+[\"\n").unwrap();
+        app.state.keybinds = config.keybinds();
+        app.state.mode = Mode::Navigate;
+
+        app.handle_navigate_key(TerminalKey::new(KeyCode::Char('['), KeyModifiers::CONTROL));
+
+        assert_eq!(app.state.selected, 1);
+        assert_eq!(app.state.mode, Mode::Navigate);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn app_navigate_mode_ctrl_shift_bracket_stays_open() {
+        let mut app = app_with_test_workspaces(&["one", "two"]);
+        app.state.mode = Mode::Navigate;
+
+        app.handle_navigate_key(TerminalKey::new(
+            KeyCode::Char('['),
+            KeyModifiers::CONTROL | KeyModifiers::SHIFT,
+        ));
+
+        assert_eq!(app.state.mode, Mode::Navigate);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn app_navigate_mode_maps_french_number_row_to_workspace() {
         let mut app = app_with_test_workspaces(&["one", "two"]);