diff --git a/input.c b/input.c
index 84c83ea8..869e1c67 100644
--- a/input.c
+++ b/input.c
@@ -1230,7 +1230,7 @@ kitty_kbd_protocol(struct seat *seat, struct terminal *term,
     }
 
     /* Plain-text without modifiers, or commposed text, is emitted as-is */
-    if (is_text) {
+    if (is_text && !released) {
         term_to_slave(term, utf8, count);
         return true;
     }