diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
index b2c4320a..c24debd3 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- Added shell-style keybindings: `alt+b`/`alt+f` for word navigation, `ctrl+d` for delete character forward (when editor has text) ([#1043](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/issues/1043) by [@jasonish](https://github.com/jasonish))
+
 ### Fixed
 
 - Empty array in package filter now disables all resources instead of falling back to manifest defaults ([#1044](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/issues/1044))
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/docs/keybindings.md b/packages/coding-agent/docs/keybindings.md
index 660f1eec..99393dd6 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/docs/keybindings.md
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/docs/keybindings.md
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ Modifier combinations: `ctrl+shift+x`, `alt+ctrl+x`, `ctrl+shift+alt+x`, etc.
 | `cursorDown` | `down` | Move cursor down |
 | `cursorLeft` | `left` | Move cursor left |
 | `cursorRight` | `right` | Move cursor right |
-| `cursorWordLeft` | `alt+left`, `ctrl+left` | Move cursor word left |
-| `cursorWordRight` | `alt+right`, `ctrl+right` | Move cursor word right |
+| `cursorWordLeft` | `alt+left`, `ctrl+left`, `alt+b` | Move cursor word left |
+| `cursorWordRight` | `alt+right`, `ctrl+right`, `alt+f` | Move cursor word right |
 | `cursorLineStart` | `home`, `ctrl+a` | Move to line start |
 | `cursorLineEnd` | `end`, `ctrl+e` | Move to line end |
 | `pageUp` | `pageUp` | Scroll up by page |
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ Modifier combinations: `ctrl+shift+x`, `alt+ctrl+x`, `ctrl+shift+alt+x`, etc.
 | Action | Default | Description |
 |--------|---------|-------------|
 | `deleteCharBackward` | `backspace` | Delete character backward |
-| `deleteCharForward` | `delete` | Delete character forward |
+| `deleteCharForward` | `delete`, `ctrl+d` | Delete character forward |
 | `deleteWordBackward` | `ctrl+w`, `alt+backspace` | Delete word backward |
 | `deleteWordForward` | `alt+d`, `alt+delete` | Delete word forward |
 | `deleteToLineStart` | `ctrl+u` | Delete to line start |
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/components/custom-editor.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/components/custom-editor.ts
index 5ec7b11b..bb1b29fe 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/components/custom-editor.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/components/custom-editor.ts
@@ -61,8 +61,9 @@ export class CustomEditor extends Editor {
 			if (this.getText().length === 0) {
 				const handler = this.onCtrlD ?? this.actionHandlers.get("exit");
 				if (handler) handler();
+				return;
 			}
-			return; // Always consume
+			// Fall through to editor handling for delete-char-forward when not empty
 		}
 
 		// Check all other app actions
diff --git a/packages/tui/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/tui/CHANGELOG.md
index 7dd124c0..09133237 100644
--- a/packages/tui/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/tui/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- Added `alt+b` and `alt+f` as alternative keybindings for word navigation (`cursorWordLeft`, `cursorWordRight`) and `ctrl+d` for `deleteCharForward` ([#1043](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/issues/1043) by [@jasonish](https://github.com/jasonish))
+
 ## [0.50.1] - 2026-01-26
 
 ## [0.50.0] - 2026-01-26
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/keybindings.ts b/packages/tui/src/keybindings.ts
index f1939c26..2fbede96 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/keybindings.ts
+++ b/packages/tui/src/keybindings.ts
@@ -68,15 +68,15 @@ export const DEFAULT_EDITOR_KEYBINDINGS: Required<EditorKeybindingsConfig> = {
 	cursorDown: "down",
 	cursorLeft: "left",
 	cursorRight: "right",
-	cursorWordLeft: ["alt+left", "ctrl+left"],
-	cursorWordRight: ["alt+right", "ctrl+right"],
+	cursorWordLeft: ["alt+left", "ctrl+left", "alt+b"],
+	cursorWordRight: ["alt+right", "ctrl+right", "alt+f"],
 	cursorLineStart: ["home", "ctrl+a"],
 	cursorLineEnd: ["end", "ctrl+e"],
 	pageUp: "pageUp",
 	pageDown: "pageDown",
 	// Deletion
 	deleteCharBackward: "backspace",
-	deleteCharForward: "delete",
+	deleteCharForward: ["delete", "ctrl+d"],
 	deleteWordBackward: ["ctrl+w", "alt+backspace"],
 	deleteWordForward: ["alt+d", "alt+delete"],
 	deleteToLineStart: "ctrl+u",