diff --git a/qutebrowser/app.py b/qutebrowser/app.py
index d8c197dab..188efbd81 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/app.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/app.py
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ class QuteBrowser(QApplication):
         modes.manager.register('insert', self._keyparsers['insert'].handle,
                                passthrough=True)
         modes.manager.register('command', None, passthrough=True)
+        self.modeman = modes.manager  # for commands
         self.installEventFilter(modes.manager)
         self.setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(False)
 
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
index 725683860..cea2e9d92 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
@@ -82,9 +82,7 @@ SECTION_DESC = {
         "Keybindings for insert mode.\n"
         "Since normal keypresses are passed through, only special keys are "
         "supported in this mode.\n"
-        "In addition to the normal commands, the following special commands "
-        "are defined:\n"
-        "  <leave>: Leave the insert mode."),
+        "An useful command to map here is the hidden command leave_mode."),
     'aliases': (
         "Aliases for commands.\n"
         "By default, no aliases are defined. Example which adds a new command "
@@ -428,9 +426,9 @@ DATA = OrderedDict([
     )),
 
     ('keybind.insert', sect.ValueList(
-        types.KeyBindingName(), types.KeyBinding(['<leave>']),
-        ('<Escape>', '<leave>'),
-        ('<Ctrl-C>', '<leave>'),
+        types.KeyBindingName(), types.KeyBinding(),
+        ('<Escape>', 'leave_mode'),
+        ('<Ctrl-C>', 'leave_mode'),
     )),
 
     ('aliases', sect.ValueList(
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/conftypes.py b/qutebrowser/config/conftypes.py
index afee10b86..832e61852 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/conftypes.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/conftypes.py
@@ -538,18 +538,6 @@ class LastClose(String):
 
 class KeyBinding(Command):
 
-    """The command of a keybinding.
+    """The command of a keybinding."""
 
-    Attributes:
-        _special_keys: Specially defined keys which are no commands.
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, special_keys=None):
-        if special_keys is None:
-            special_keys = []
-        self._special_keys = special_keys
-
-    def validate(self, value):
-        if value in self._special_keys:
-            return
-        super().validate(value)
+    pass
diff --git a/qutebrowser/keyinput/insertmode.py b/qutebrowser/keyinput/insertmode.py
index c429b045a..6b57b3822 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/keyinput/insertmode.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/keyinput/insertmode.py
@@ -18,18 +18,13 @@
 """KeyParser for "insert" mode."""
 
 import qutebrowser.keyinput.modes as modes
-from qutebrowser.keyinput.keyparser import KeyParser
+from qutebrowser.keyinput.keyparser import CommandKeyParser
 
 
-class InsertKeyParser(KeyParser):
+class InsertKeyParser(CommandKeyParser):
 
     """KeyParser for insert mode."""
 
     def __init__(self, parent=None):
         super().__init__(parent, supports_chains=False)
         self.read_config('keybind.insert')
-
-    def execute(self, cmdstr, _count=None):
-        """Handle a completed keychain."""
-        if cmdstr == '<leave>':
-            modes.leave("insert")
diff --git a/qutebrowser/keyinput/modes.py b/qutebrowser/keyinput/modes.py
index e293edc5f..c143efb8e 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/keyinput/modes.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/keyinput/modes.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import logging
 from PyQt5.QtCore import pyqtSignal, pyqtSlot, QObject, QEvent
 
 import qutebrowser.config.config as config
+import qutebrowser.commands.utils as cmdutils
 
 
 manager = None
@@ -150,6 +151,13 @@ class ModeManager(QObject):
         logging.debug("New mode stack: {}".format(self._mode_stack))
         self.left.emit(mode)
 
+    # FIXME handle modes=[] and not_modes=[] params
+    @cmdutils.register(instance='modeman', name='leave_mode', hide=True)
+    def leave_current_mode(self):
+        if self.mode == "normal":
+            raise ValueError("Can't leave normal mode!")
+        self.leave(self.mode)
+
     @pyqtSlot(str, str)
     def on_config_changed(self, section, option):
         """Update local setting when config changed."""