diff --git a/include/QF/input/binding.h b/include/QF/input/binding.h
index 3b3bc3aa2..5c82d08c2 100644
--- a/include/QF/input/binding.h
+++ b/include/QF/input/binding.h
@@ -234,6 +234,8 @@ int IN_RegisterAxis (in_axis_t *axis);
 in_button_t *IN_FindButton (const char *name);
 in_axis_t *IN_FindAxis (const char *name);
 
+struct IE_event_s;
+int IN_Binding_HandleEvent (const struct IE_event_s *ie_event);
 void IN_Binding_Activate (void);
 void IN_Binding_Init (void);
 struct plitem_s;
diff --git a/include/QF/input/event.h b/include/QF/input/event.h
index 399d25f9f..4b526fa61 100644
--- a/include/QF/input/event.h
+++ b/include/QF/input/event.h
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ typedef enum {
 		| (1 << ie_remove_device) \
 	)
 
-typedef struct {
+typedef struct IE_event_s {
 	IE_event_type type;
 	uint64_t    when;
 	union {
diff --git a/libs/input/in_binding.c b/libs/input/in_binding.c
index bb846605b..d7da6878c 100644
--- a/libs/input/in_binding.c
+++ b/libs/input/in_binding.c
@@ -202,6 +202,19 @@ in_binding_event_handler (const IE_event_t *ie_event, void *unused)
 	static void (*handlers[ie_event_count]) (const IE_event_t *ie_event) = {
 		[ie_add_device] = in_binding_add_device,
 		[ie_remove_device] = in_binding_remove_device,
+	};
+	if (ie_event->type < 0 || ie_event->type >= ie_event_count
+		|| !handlers[ie_event->type]) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+	handlers[ie_event->type] (ie_event);
+	return 1;
+}
+
+int
+IN_Binding_HandleEvent (const IE_event_t *ie_event)
+{
+	static void (*handlers[ie_event_count]) (const IE_event_t *ie_event) = {
 		[ie_axis] = in_binding_axis,
 		[ie_button] = in_binding_button,
 	};
diff --git a/qw/source/cl_input.c b/qw/source/cl_input.c
index df8f709ba..8f710c948 100644
--- a/qw/source/cl_input.c
+++ b/qw/source/cl_input.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 
 #include "QF/checksum.h"
 #include "QF/cmd.h"
+#include "QF/console.h"
 #include "QF/cvar.h"
 #include "QF/input.h"
 #include "QF/keys.h"
@@ -45,6 +46,8 @@
 #include "QF/teamplay.h"
 #include "QF/va.h"
 
+#include "QF/input/event.h"
+
 #include "compat.h"
 
 #include "client/view.h"
@@ -61,6 +64,7 @@
 
 int         cl_game_context;
 int         cl_demo_context;
+static int  cl_event_id;
 
 cvar_t     *cl_nodelta;
 cvar_t     *cl_maxnetfps;
@@ -563,9 +567,24 @@ CL_SendCmd (void)
 		Netchan_Transmit (&cls.netchan, buf.cursize, buf.data);
 }
 
+static int
+cl_event_handler (const IE_event_t *ie_event, void *unused)
+{
+	if (ie_event->type == ie_key) {
+		if (ie_event->key.code == QFK_ESCAPE) {
+			// FIXME this should bring up the menu
+			Con_SetState (con_active);
+			return 1;
+		}
+	}
+	return IN_Binding_HandleEvent (ie_event);
+}
+
 void
 CL_Input_Init (void)
 {
+	cl_event_id = IE_Add_Handler (cl_event_handler, 0);
+
 	for (int i = 0; cl_in_axes[i]; i++) {
 		IN_RegisterAxis (cl_in_axes[i]);
 	}
@@ -584,7 +603,7 @@ void
 CL_Input_Activate (void)
 {
 	IMT_SetContext (cl_game_context);
-	IN_Binding_Activate ();
+	IE_Set_Focus (cl_event_id);
 }
 
 void