diff --git a/qutebrowser/app.py b/qutebrowser/app.py
index df0f24f16..44058c02b 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/app.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/app.py
@@ -16,9 +16,10 @@ class QuteBrowser(QApplication):
         self.commandparser = cmdutils.CommandParser()
         self.keyparser = KeyParser(self.mainwindow)
 
+        self.mainwindow.tabs.keypress.connect(self.keyparser.handle)
         self.keyparser.set_cmd_text.connect(self.mainwindow.status.cmd.set_cmd)
         self.mainwindow.status.cmd.got_cmd.connect(self.commandparser.parse)
-        self.mainwindow.status.cmd.got_cmd.connect(self.mainwindow.setFocus)
+        self.mainwindow.status.cmd.got_cmd.connect(self.mainwindow.tabs.setFocus)
         self.commandparser.error.connect(self.mainwindow.status.disp_error)
 
         self.init_cmds()
diff --git a/qutebrowser/commands/keys.py b/qutebrowser/commands/keys.py
index 4a599b6b2..1074bf789 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/commands/keys.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/commands/keys.py
@@ -4,34 +4,31 @@ from PyQt5.QtGui import QKeySequence
 import logging
 
 class KeyParser(QObject):
-    keyparent = None
+    keystring = ''
     set_cmd_text = pyqtSignal(str)
-    id_to_cmd = {}
-
-    def __init__(self, keyparent):
-        super().__init__()
-        self.keyparent = keyparent
-        sc = QShortcut(keyparent)
-        sc.setKey(QKeySequence(':'))
-        sc.setContext(Qt.WidgetWithChildrenShortcut)
-        sc.activated.connect(self.handle_empty)
+    key_to_cmd = {}
 
     def from_cmd_dict(self, d):
         for cmd in d.values():
             if cmd.key is not None:
                 logging.debug('registered: {} -> {}'.format(cmd.name, cmd.key))
-                sc = QShortcut(self.keyparent)
-                sc.setKey(QKeySequence(cmd.key))
-                sc.setContext(Qt.WidgetWithChildrenShortcut)
-                sc.activated.connect(self.handle)
-                self.id_to_cmd[sc.id()] = cmd
+                self.key_to_cmd[cmd.key] = cmd
 
-    def handle(self):
-        cmd = self.id_to_cmd[self.sender().id()]
-        if cmd.nargs and cmd.nargs != 0:
-            self.set_cmd_text.emit(':{} '.format(cmd.name))
+    def handle(self, e):
+        logging.debug('Got key: {} / text: {}'.format(e.key(), e.text()))
+        self.keystring += e.text()
+        if self.keystring == ':':
+            self.set_cmd_text.emit(':')
+            self.keystring = ''
+            return
+        try:
+            cmd = self.key_to_cmd[self.keystring]
+        except KeyError:
+            logging.debug('No match for "{}" (added {})'.format(self.keystring, e.text()))
+            pass
         else:
-            cmd.run()
-
-    def handle_empty(self):
-        self.set_cmd_text.emit(':')
+            self.keystring = ''
+            if cmd.nargs and cmd.nargs != 0:
+                self.set_cmd_text.emit(':{} '.format(cmd.name))
+            else:
+                cmd.run()
diff --git a/qutebrowser/widgets/browser.py b/qutebrowser/widgets/browser.py
index 8c5512cef..a64deb93b 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/widgets/browser.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/widgets/browser.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import logging
 class TabbedBrowser(TabWidget):
     cur_progress = pyqtSignal(int)
     cur_load_finished = pyqtSignal(bool)
+    keypress = pyqtSignal('QKeyEvent')
     url_stack = []
 
     def __init__(self, parent):
@@ -126,6 +127,10 @@ class TabbedBrowser(TabWidget):
         tab = self.widget(idx)
         self.cur_progress.emit(tab.progress)
 
+    def keyPressEvent(self, e):
+        self.keypress.emit(e)
+        super().keyPressEvent(e)
+
 class BrowserTab(QWebView):
     parent = None
     progress = 0
diff --git a/qutebrowser/widgets/mainwindow.py b/qutebrowser/widgets/mainwindow.py
index 879adfd22..74184acad 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/widgets/mainwindow.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/widgets/mainwindow.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.tabs.setObjectName("tabs")
         self.vbox.addWidget(self.tabs)
 
-        self.status = StatusBar(self.cwidget)
+        self.status = StatusBar(self)
         self.vbox.addWidget(self.status)
 
         self.tabs.cur_progress.connect(self.status.prog.set_progress)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/widgets/statusbar.py b/qutebrowser/widgets/statusbar.py
index e48c854cc..bdd29dc7e 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/widgets/statusbar.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/widgets/statusbar.py
@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@ from PyQt5.QtGui import QValidator, QKeySequence
 
 class StatusBar(QWidget):
     has_error = False
+    parent = None
 
     # TODO: the statusbar should be a bit smaller
     def __init__(self, parent):
         super().__init__(parent)
+        self.parent = parent
         self.setObjectName(self.__class__.__name__)
         self.set_color("white", "black")
         self.hbox = QHBoxLayout(self)
@@ -117,7 +119,8 @@ class StatusCommand(QLineEdit):
         self.esc = QShortcut(self)
         self.esc.setKey(QKeySequence(Qt.Key_Escape))
         self.esc.setContext(Qt.WidgetWithChildrenShortcut)
-        self.esc.activated.connect(parent.setFocus)
+        # FIXME this is fugly and doesn't clear the keystring
+        self.esc.activated.connect(parent.parent.tabs.setFocus)
 
     def process_cmd(self):
         text = self.text().lstrip(':')