diff --git a/kittens/diff/main.py b/kittens/diff/main.py
index a6c1cbccf..0aaed97ab 100644
--- a/kittens/diff/main.py
+++ b/kittens/diff/main.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from gettext import gettext as _
 from kitty.cli import CONFIG_HELP, parse_args
 from kitty.constants import appname
 from kitty.fast_data_types import wcswidth
-from kitty.key_encoding import ESCAPE, RELEASE, enter_key
+from kitty.key_encoding import K, RELEASE, enter_key
 
 from ..tui.handler import Handler
 from ..tui.images import ImageManager
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ except ImportError:
 
 
 INITIALIZING, COLLECTED, DIFFED, COMMAND, MESSAGE = range(5)
+ESCAPE = K['ESCAPE']
 
 
 def generate_diff(collection, context):
diff --git a/kittens/hints/main.py b/kittens/hints/main.py
index 286a28d60..bd8e93b8d 100644
--- a/kittens/hints/main.py
+++ b/kittens/hints/main.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from itertools import repeat
 
 from kitty.cli import parse_args
 from kitty.fast_data_types import set_clipboard_string
-from kitty.key_encoding import ESCAPE, backspace_key, enter_key
+from kitty.key_encoding import K, backspace_key, enter_key
 from kitty.utils import screen_size_function
 
 from ..tui.handler import Handler
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ URL_PREFIXES = 'http https file ftp'.split()
 DEFAULT_HINT_ALPHABET = string.digits + string.ascii_lowercase
 DEFAULT_REGEX = r'(?m)^\s*(.+)\s*$'
 screen_size = screen_size_function()
+ESCAPE = K['ESCAPE']
 
 
 class Mark:
diff --git a/kittens/resize_window/main.py b/kittens/resize_window/main.py
index 14a57208b..1b6065539 100644
--- a/kittens/resize_window/main.py
+++ b/kittens/resize_window/main.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import sys
 from kitty.cli import parse_args
 from kitty.cmds import cmap, parse_subcommand_cli
 from kitty.constants import version
-from kitty.key_encoding import CTRL, ESCAPE, RELEASE, N, S, T, W
+from kitty.key_encoding import CTRL, RELEASE, K
 from kitty.remote_control import encode_send, parse_rc_args
 
 from ..tui.handler import Handler
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ from ..tui.loop import Loop
 from ..tui.operations import styled
 
 global_opts = None
+ESCAPE = K['ESCAPE']
+N = K['N']
+S = K['S']
+T = K['T']
+W = K['W']
 
 
 class Resize(Handler):
diff --git a/kittens/tui/line_edit.py b/kittens/tui/line_edit.py
index 355570f67..cc12c5f0d 100644
--- a/kittens/tui/line_edit.py
+++ b/kittens/tui/line_edit.py
@@ -3,7 +3,14 @@
 # License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2018, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
 
 from kitty.fast_data_types import truncate_point_for_length, wcswidth
-from kitty.key_encoding import RELEASE, HOME, END, BACKSPACE, DELETE, LEFT, RIGHT
+from kitty.key_encoding import RELEASE, K
+
+HOME = K['HOME']
+END = K['END']
+BACKSPACE = K['BACKSPACE']
+DELETE = K['DELETE']
+LEFT = K['LEFT']
+RIGHT = K['RIGHT']
 
 
 class LineEdit:
diff --git a/kittens/tui/loop.py b/kittens/tui/loop.py
index 5081533a6..aba3b6c0f 100644
--- a/kittens/tui/loop.py
+++ b/kittens/tui/loop.py
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ from kitty.fast_data_types import (
     close_tty, normal_tty, open_tty, parse_input_from_terminal, raw_tty
 )
 from kitty.key_encoding import (
-    ALT, CTRL, PRESS, RELEASE, REPEAT, SHIFT, C, D, backspace_key,
-    decode_key_event, enter_key
+    ALT, CTRL, PRESS, RELEASE, REPEAT, SHIFT, backspace_key,
+    decode_key_event, enter_key, K
 )
 from kitty.utils import screen_size_function, write_all
 
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ from .handler import Handler
 from .operations import init_state, reset_state
 
 
+C, D = K['C'], K['D']
+
+
 def debug(*a, **kw):
     from base64 import standard_b64encode
     buf = io.StringIO()
diff --git a/kittens/unicode_input/main.py b/kittens/unicode_input/main.py
index 0470cfe05..6356450d6 100644
--- a/kittens/unicode_input/main.py
+++ b/kittens/unicode_input/main.py
@@ -13,11 +13,8 @@ from gettext import gettext as _
 from kitty.cli import parse_args
 from kitty.config import cached_values_for
 from kitty.constants import config_dir
-from kitty.fast_data_types import wcswidth, is_emoji_presentation_base
-from kitty.key_encoding import (
-    DOWN, ESCAPE, F1, F2, F3, F4, F12, LEFT, RELEASE, RIGHT, SHIFT, TAB, UP, CTRL,
-    enter_key
-)
+from kitty.fast_data_types import is_emoji_presentation_base, wcswidth
+from kitty.key_encoding import CTRL, RELEASE, SHIFT, K, enter_key
 from kitty.utils import get_editor
 
 from ..tui.handler import Handler
@@ -29,6 +26,17 @@ from ..tui.operations import (
 )
 
 HEX, NAME, EMOTICONS, FAVORITES = 'HEX', 'NAME', 'EMOTICONS', 'FAVORITES'
+UP = K['UP']
+DOWN = K['DOWN']
+LEFT = K['LEFT']
+RIGHT = K['RIGHT']
+TAB = K['TAB']
+ESCAPE = K['ESCAPE']
+F1 = K['F1']
+F2 = K['F2']
+F3 = K['F3']
+F4 = K['F4']
+F12 = K['F12']
 favorites_path = os.path.join(config_dir, 'unicode-input-favorites.conf')
 INDEX_CHAR = '.'
 DEFAULT_SET = tuple(map(
diff --git a/kitty/key_encoding.py b/kitty/key_encoding.py
index 46b5325c7..325650606 100644
--- a/kitty/key_encoding.py
+++ b/kitty/key_encoding.py
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ rtype_map = {v: k for k, v in type_map.items()}
 mod_map = {c: i for i, c in enumerate('ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP')}
 rmod_map = {v: k for k, v in mod_map.items()}
 key_rmap = {}
-g = globals()
+g = K = {}
 config_key_map = {}
 config_mod_map = {
     'SHIFT': SHIFT,