diff --git a/docs/Config.md b/docs/Config.md
index 8fd1fd960..d3e86873d 100644
--- a/docs/Config.md
+++ b/docs/Config.md
@@ -476,6 +476,8 @@ keybinding:
     quit: q
     quit-alt1: <c-c>
     return: <esc>
+    # When set to a printable character, this will work for returning from non-prompt panels
+    return-alt1: null
     quitWithoutChangingDirectory: Q
     togglePanel: <tab>
     prevItem: <up>
diff --git a/pkg/config/user_config.go b/pkg/config/user_config.go
index 9064303e2..3b28e3e5c 100644
--- a/pkg/config/user_config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/user_config.go
@@ -374,6 +374,7 @@ type KeybindingUniversalConfig struct {
 	Quit                              string   `yaml:"quit"`
 	QuitAlt1                          string   `yaml:"quit-alt1"`
 	Return                            string   `yaml:"return"`
+	ReturnAlt1                        string   `yaml:"return-alt1"`
 	QuitWithoutChangingDirectory      string   `yaml:"quitWithoutChangingDirectory"`
 	TogglePanel                       string   `yaml:"togglePanel"`
 	PrevItem                          string   `yaml:"prevItem"`
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/commit_description_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/commit_description_controller.go
index 4337a1e4b..96a333c26 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/commit_description_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/commit_description_controller.go
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ func (self *CommitDescriptionController) GetKeybindings(opts types.KeybindingsOp
 			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.Return),
 			Handler: self.close,
 		},
+		{
+			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ReturnAlt1),
+			Handler: self.close,
+		},
 		{
 			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ConfirmInEditor),
 			Handler: self.confirm,
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/confirmation_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/confirmation_controller.go
index 6bfff6b98..fd33158a1 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/confirmation_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/confirmation_controller.go
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ func (self *ConfirmationController) GetKeybindings(opts types.KeybindingsOpts) [
 			Description:     self.c.Tr.CloseCancel,
 			DisplayOnScreen: true,
 		},
+		{
+			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ReturnAlt1),
+			Handler: func() error { return self.context().State.OnClose() },
+		},
 		{
 			Key: opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.TogglePanel),
 			Handler: func() error {
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/global_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/global_controller.go
index 2d7f796a5..6c3eeeb55 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/global_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/global_controller.go
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ func (self *GlobalController) GetKeybindings(opts types.KeybindingsOpts) []*type
 			Description:     self.c.Tr.Cancel,
 			DisplayOnScreen: true,
 		},
+		{
+			Key:      opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ReturnAlt1),
+			Modifier: gocui.ModNone,
+			Handler:  self.escape,
+		},
 		{
 			Key:         opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ToggleWhitespaceInDiffView),
 			Handler:     self.toggleWhitespace,
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/menu_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/menu_controller.go
index 8baf9104e..fbb99eea1 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/menu_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/menu_controller.go
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ func (self *MenuController) GetKeybindings(opts types.KeybindingsOpts) []*types.
 			Description:     self.c.Tr.Close,
 			DisplayOnScreen: true,
 		},
+		{
+			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ReturnAlt1),
+			Handler: self.close,
+		},
 	}
 
 	return bindings
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/merge_conflicts_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/merge_conflicts_controller.go
index 28cf1bab4..2e6e836a8 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/merge_conflicts_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/merge_conflicts_controller.go
@@ -123,6 +123,10 @@ func (self *MergeConflictsController) GetKeybindings(opts types.KeybindingsOpts)
 			Handler:     self.Escape,
 			Description: self.c.Tr.ReturnToFilesPanel,
 		},
+		{
+			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ReturnAlt1),
+			Handler: self.Escape,
+		},
 	}
 
 	return bindings
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/patch_building_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/patch_building_controller.go
index 014b8d7b7..1bd0306e9 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/patch_building_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/patch_building_controller.go
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ func (self *PatchBuildingController) GetKeybindings(opts types.KeybindingsOpts)
 			Handler:     self.Escape,
 			Description: self.c.Tr.ExitCustomPatchBuilder,
 		},
+		{
+			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ReturnAlt1),
+			Handler: self.Escape,
+		},
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/search_prompt_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/search_prompt_controller.go
index 65dd23383..7d34b9528 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/search_prompt_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/search_prompt_controller.go
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ func (self *SearchPromptController) GetKeybindings(opts types.KeybindingsOpts) [
 			Modifier: gocui.ModNone,
 			Handler:  self.cancel,
 		},
+		{
+			Key:      opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ReturnAlt1),
+			Modifier: gocui.ModNone,
+			Handler:  self.cancel,
+		},
 		{
 			Key:      opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.PrevItem),
 			Modifier: gocui.ModNone,
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/snake_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/snake_controller.go
index a2a2030b7..05bc82ff1 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/snake_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/snake_controller.go
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ func (self *SnakeController) GetKeybindings(opts types.KeybindingsOpts) []*types
 			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.Return),
 			Handler: self.Escape,
 		},
+		{
+			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ReturnAlt1),
+			Handler: self.Escape,
+		},
 	}
 
 	return bindings
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/staging_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/staging_controller.go
index 93696a6ec..34297d8b2 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/staging_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/staging_controller.go
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@ func (self *StagingController) GetKeybindings(opts types.KeybindingsOpts) []*typ
 			Handler:     self.Escape,
 			Description: self.c.Tr.ReturnToFilesPanel,
 		},
+		{
+			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ReturnAlt1),
+			Handler: self.Escape,
+		},
 		{
 			Key:             opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.TogglePanel),
 			Handler:         self.TogglePanel,
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/suggestions_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/suggestions_controller.go
index 4737bdec8..cfae92fcf 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/suggestions_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/suggestions_controller.go
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ func (self *SuggestionsController) GetKeybindings(opts types.KeybindingsOpts) []
 			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.Return),
 			Handler: func() error { return self.context().State.OnClose() },
 		},
+		{
+			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.ReturnAlt1),
+			Handler: func() error { return self.context().State.OnClose() },
+		},
 		{
 			Key:     opts.GetKey(opts.Config.Universal.TogglePanel),
 			Handler: self.switchToConfirmation,