diff --git a/kitty/keys.c b/kitty/keys.c
index fc6085ca5..1469913db 100644
--- a/kitty/keys.c
+++ b/kitty/keys.c
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 #include "glfw-wrapper.h"
 #include "control-codes.h"
 
+static bool needs_special_handling[128 * 16] = {0};
+
 const char*
 key_to_bytes(int glfw_key, bool smkx, bool extended, int mods, int action) {
     if ((action & 3) == 3) return NULL;
diff --git a/kitty/keys.h b/kitty/keys.h
index afa4184ee..342c43087 100644
--- a/kitty/keys.h
+++ b/kitty/keys.h
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <limits.h>
-static bool needs_special_handling[2048] = {0};
 // map glfw key numbers to 7-bit numbers for compact data storage
 static const uint8_t key_map[349] = {
 UINT8_MAX,
diff --git a/kitty/keys.py b/kitty/keys.py
index 73e564c42..cd556e07c 100644
--- a/kitty/keys.py
+++ b/kitty/keys.py
@@ -259,7 +259,6 @@ def generate_key_table():
     w('#include <stdint.h>')
     w('#include <stdbool.h>')
     w('#include <limits.h>')
-    w('static bool needs_special_handling[%d] = {0};' % (128 * 16))
     number_of_keys = defines.GLFW_KEY_LAST + 1
     w('// map glfw key numbers to 7-bit numbers for compact data storage')
     w('static const uint8_t key_map[%d] = {' % number_of_keys)