diff --git a/src/pane/terminal.rs b/src/pane/terminal.rs
index 4bd50669..58de71ce 100644
--- a/src/pane/terminal.rs
+++ b/src/pane/terminal.rs
@@ -1711,6 +1711,13 @@ impl GhosttyPaneTerminal {
         key: crate::input::TerminalKey,
         protocol: crate::input::KeyboardProtocol,
     ) -> Vec<u8> {
+        if matches!(protocol, crate::input::KeyboardProtocol::Legacy)
+            && key.code == crossterm::event::KeyCode::Tab
+            && key.modifiers == crossterm::event::KeyModifiers::CONTROL
+        {
+            return crate::input::encode_terminal_key(key, protocol);
+        }
+
         if ghostty_prefers_herdr_text_encoding(&key) {
             return crate::input::encode_terminal_key(key, protocol);
         }
@@ -3909,6 +3916,30 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(encoded, b"\t");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn ghostty_ctrl_tab_matches_the_pane_keyboard_protocol() {
+        let (tx, _rx) = mpsc::channel(4);
+        let terminal = crate::ghostty::Terminal::new(80, 24, 0).unwrap();
+        let legacy = GhosttyPaneTerminal::new(terminal, tx.clone()).unwrap();
+        let key = crate::input::TerminalKey::new(
+            crossterm::event::KeyCode::Tab,
+            crossterm::event::KeyModifiers::CONTROL,
+        );
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            legacy.encode_terminal_key(key.clone(), crate::input::KeyboardProtocol::Legacy),
+            b"\t"
+        );
+
+        let mut terminal = crate::ghostty::Terminal::new(80, 24, 0).unwrap();
+        terminal.write(b"\x1b[>3u");
+        let kitty = GhosttyPaneTerminal::new(terminal, tx).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            kitty.encode_terminal_key(key, crate::input::KeyboardProtocol::Kitty { flags: 3 }),
+            b"\x1b[9;5u"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn ghostty_enter_backspace_release_in_legacy_pane_emits_nothing() {
         let (tx, _rx) = mpsc::channel(4);