diff --git a/status.c b/status.c
index 08952f58..2bb42c0c 100644
--- a/status.c
+++ b/status.c
@@ -1471,8 +1471,6 @@ process_key:
 	return (0);
 
 append_key:
-	if (key <= 0x1f || (key >= KEYC_BASE && key < KEYC_BASE_END))
-		return (0);
 	if (key <= 0x7f)
 		utf8_set(&tmp, key);
 	else if (KEYC_IS_UNICODE(key))
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index a422ed83..5ea6c315 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -157,7 +157,9 @@ struct winlink;
 #define KEYC_IS_UNICODE(key) \
 	(((key) & KEYC_MASK_KEY) > 0x7f && \
 	 (((key) & KEYC_MASK_KEY) < KEYC_BASE || \
-	  ((key) & KEYC_MASK_KEY) >= KEYC_BASE_END))
+	  ((key) & KEYC_MASK_KEY) >= KEYC_BASE_END) && \
+	 (((key) & KEYC_MASK_KEY) < KEYC_USER || \
+	  ((key) & KEYC_MASK_KEY) >= KEYC_USER + KEYC_NUSER))
 
 /* Multiple click timeout. */
 #define KEYC_CLICK_TIMEOUT 300