diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
index 1a3af79d..59be26f3 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed Kitty key release events leaking to parent shell over slow SSH connections ([#1204](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/issues/1204))
+
 ## [0.51.1] - 2026-02-02
 
 ### New Features
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts
index 300a7516..3f852185 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts
@@ -2552,6 +2552,10 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 		// requestRender() uses process.nextTick(), so we wait one tick
 		await new Promise((resolve) => process.nextTick(resolve));
 
+		// Drain any in-flight Kitty key release events before stopping.
+		// This prevents escape sequences from leaking to the parent shell over slow SSH.
+		await this.ui.terminal.prepareForExit();
+
 		this.stop();
 		process.exit(0);
 	}
diff --git a/packages/tui/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/tui/CHANGELOG.md
index c08fc4b9..b94819a8 100644
--- a/packages/tui/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/tui/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- Added `Terminal.prepareForExit()` method to drain Kitty key release events before exit
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed Kitty key release events leaking to parent shell over slow SSH connections ([#1204](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/issues/1204))
+
 ## [0.51.1] - 2026-02-02
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/terminal.ts b/packages/tui/src/terminal.ts
index 9c852b3e..985afb08 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/terminal.ts
+++ b/packages/tui/src/terminal.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,14 @@ export interface Terminal {
 	// Stop the terminal and restore state
 	stop(): void;
 
+	/**
+	 * Prepare for process exit by disabling Kitty protocol and draining stdin.
+	 * Call this before stop() when exiting to prevent Kitty key release events
+	 * from leaking to the parent shell over slow SSH connections.
+	 * @param drainMs - How long to drain stdin (default: 50ms)
+	 */
+	prepareForExit(drainMs?: number): Promise<void>;
+
 	// Write output to terminal
 	write(data: string): void;
 
@@ -150,11 +158,25 @@ export class ProcessTerminal implements Terminal {
 		process.stdout.write("\x1b[?u");
 	}
 
+	async prepareForExit(drainMs = 50): Promise<void> {
+		if (!this._kittyProtocolActive) return;
+
+		// Disable Kitty keyboard protocol first
+		process.stdout.write("\x1b[<u");
+		this._kittyProtocolActive = false;
+		setKittyProtocolActive(false);
+
+		// Wait briefly to let any in-flight key release events arrive and be
+		// consumed by our still-active stdin handler. This prevents Kitty
+		// escape sequences from leaking to the parent shell over slow SSH.
+		await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, drainMs));
+	}
+
 	stop(): void {
 		// Disable bracketed paste mode
 		process.stdout.write("\x1b[?2004l");
 
-		// Disable Kitty keyboard protocol (pop the flags we pushed) - only if we enabled it
+		// Disable Kitty keyboard protocol if not already done by prepareForExit()
 		if (this._kittyProtocolActive) {
 			process.stdout.write("\x1b[<u");
 			this._kittyProtocolActive = false;
diff --git a/packages/tui/test/virtual-terminal.ts b/packages/tui/test/virtual-terminal.ts
index 318ad4c6..f4399120 100644
--- a/packages/tui/test/virtual-terminal.ts
+++ b/packages/tui/test/virtual-terminal.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ export class VirtualTerminal implements Terminal {
 		this.xterm.write("\x1b[?2004h");
 	}
 
+	async prepareForExit(_drainMs?: number): Promise<void> {
+		// No-op for virtual terminal - no Kitty protocol to drain
+	}
+
 	stop(): void {
 		// Disable bracketed paste mode
 		this.xterm.write("\x1b[?2004l");