diff --git a/src/nnn.c b/src/nnn.c
index 1e506bd0..a20dfe79 100644
--- a/src/nnn.c
+++ b/src/nnn.c
@@ -1269,6 +1269,7 @@ static char *xreadline(char *fname, char *prompt)
 				case '\n': // fallthrough
 				case '\r':
 					goto END;
+				case 127: /* Handle DEL */ // fallthrough
 				case '\b': /* some old curses (e.g. rhel25) still send '\b' for backspace */
 					if (pos > 0) {
 						memmove(buf + pos - 1, buf + pos, (len - pos) << 2);
diff --git a/src/nnn.h b/src/nnn.h
index 9ddccb05..e7a4d245 100644
--- a/src/nnn.h
+++ b/src/nnn.h
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static struct assoc assocs[] = {
 static struct key bindings[] = {
 	/* Back */
 	{ KEY_BACKSPACE,  SEL_BACK,      "",     "" },
-	{ 8 /* BS */,     SEL_BACK,      "",     "" },
+	{ '\b' /* BS */,  SEL_BACK,      "",     "" },
 	{ 127 /* DEL */,  SEL_BACK,      "",     "" },
 	{ KEY_LEFT,       SEL_BACK,      "",     "" },
 	{ 'h',            SEL_BACK,      "",     "" },