diff --git a/include/ui/sdl2.h b/include/ui/sdl2.h
index e3acc7c82a..6907115809 100644
--- a/include/ui/sdl2.h
+++ b/include/ui/sdl2.h
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ void sdl2_poll_events(struct sdl2_console *scon);
 
 void sdl2_process_key(struct sdl2_console *scon,
                       SDL_KeyboardEvent *ev);
+void sdl2_release_modifiers(struct sdl2_console *scon);
 
 void sdl2_2d_update(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
                     int x, int y, int w, int h);
diff --git a/ui/sdl2-input.c b/ui/sdl2-input.c
index b02a89ee7c..2286df4223 100644
--- a/ui/sdl2-input.c
+++ b/ui/sdl2-input.c
@@ -58,3 +58,8 @@ void sdl2_process_key(struct sdl2_console *scon,
         }
     }
 }
+
+void sdl2_release_modifiers(struct sdl2_console *scon)
+{
+    qkbd_state_lift_all_keys(scon->kbd);
+}
diff --git a/ui/sdl2.c b/ui/sdl2.c
index 251ce97796..71a0d471d1 100644
--- a/ui/sdl2.c
+++ b/ui/sdl2.c
@@ -418,6 +418,7 @@ static void handle_keydown(SDL_Event *ev)
                         SDL_ShowWindow(sdl2_console[win].real_window);
                     }
                 }
+                sdl2_release_modifiers(scon);
                 gui_keysym = 1;
             }
             break;