diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas.cc b/libs/canvas/canvas.cc
index 35fe31041d..be0f25d7a2 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas.cc
@@ -374,7 +374,8 @@ GtkCanvas::GtkCanvas ()
 {
 	/* these are the events we want to know about */
 	add_events (Gdk::BUTTON_PRESS_MASK | Gdk::BUTTON_RELEASE_MASK | Gdk::POINTER_MOTION_MASK |
-		    Gdk::SCROLL_MASK | Gdk::ENTER_NOTIFY_MASK | Gdk::LEAVE_NOTIFY_MASK);
+		    Gdk::SCROLL_MASK | Gdk::ENTER_NOTIFY_MASK | Gdk::LEAVE_NOTIFY_MASK |
+		    Gdk::KEY_PRESS_MASK | Gdk::KEY_RELEASE_MASK);
 }
 
 void
@@ -814,6 +815,28 @@ GtkCanvas::on_scroll_event (GdkEventScroll* ev)
 	return deliver_event (reinterpret_cast<GdkEvent*>(&copy));
 }
 
+/** Handler for GDK key press events.
+ *  @param ev Event.
+ *  @return true if the event was handled.
+ */
+bool
+GtkCanvas::on_key_press_event (GdkEventKey* ev)
+{
+	DEBUG_TRACE (PBD::DEBUG::CanvasEvents, "canvas key press\n");
+	return deliver_event (reinterpret_cast<GdkEvent*>(ev));
+}
+
+/** Handler for GDK key release events.
+ *  @param ev Event.
+ *  @return true if the event was handled.
+ */
+bool
+GtkCanvas::on_key_release_event (GdkEventKey* ev)
+{
+	DEBUG_TRACE (PBD::DEBUG::CanvasEvents, "canvas key release\n");
+	return deliver_event (reinterpret_cast<GdkEvent*>(ev));
+}
+
 /** Handler for GDK button press events.
  *  @param ev Event.
  *  @return true if the event was handled.
diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h
index a764e6ee8a..26cf850d03 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h
@@ -195,6 +195,8 @@ protected:
 	void on_size_allocate (Gtk::Allocation&);
 	bool on_scroll_event (GdkEventScroll *);
 	bool on_expose_event (GdkEventExpose *);
+	bool on_key_press_event (GdkEventKey *);
+	bool on_key_release_event (GdkEventKey *);
 	bool on_button_press_event (GdkEventButton *);
 	bool on_button_release_event (GdkEventButton* event);
 	bool on_motion_notify_event (GdkEventMotion *);