diff --git a/lib/internal/readline/interface.js b/lib/internal/readline/interface.js
index 08f7aaa9e3e7e8..a0710b666405f7 100644
--- a/lib/internal/readline/interface.js
+++ b/lib/internal/readline/interface.js
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ const ESCAPE_CODE_TIMEOUT = 500;
 const kMaxLengthOfKillRing = 32;
 
 const kMultilinePrompt = Symbol('| ');
+const kKeyboardProtocolWasEnabled = Symbol('_keyboardProtocolWasEnabled');
 
 const kAddHistory = Symbol('_addHistory');
 const kBeforeEdit = Symbol('_beforeEdit');
@@ -281,6 +282,8 @@ function InterfaceConstructor(input, output, completer, terminal) {
   }
 
   function onkeypress(s, key) {
+    if (key?.eventType === 'release')
+      return;
     self[kTtyWrite](s, key);
     if (key?.sequence) {
       // If the key.sequence is half of a surrogate pair
@@ -333,6 +336,13 @@ function InterfaceConstructor(input, output, completer, terminal) {
     // Cursor position on the line.
     this.cursor = 0;
 
+    if (typeof output?.setKeyboardProtocol === 'function' && output.isTTY) {
+      output.setKeyboardProtocol('kitty');
+      this[kKeyboardProtocolWasEnabled] = true;
+    } else {
+      this[kKeyboardProtocolWasEnabled] = false;
+    }
+
     if (output !== null && output !== undefined)
       output.on('resize', onresize);
 
@@ -549,6 +559,9 @@ class Interface extends InterfaceConstructor {
     if (this.closed) return;
     this.pause();
     if (this.terminal) {
+      if (this[kKeyboardProtocolWasEnabled]) {
+        this.output.setKeyboardProtocol('legacy');
+      }
       this[kSetRawMode](false);
     }
     this.closed = true;
diff --git a/lib/internal/readline/utils.js b/lib/internal/readline/utils.js
index 93029df7c8da30..09a18877292db0 100644
--- a/lib/internal/readline/utils.js
+++ b/lib/internal/readline/utils.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const {
   ArrayPrototypeToSorted,
   RegExpPrototypeExec,
   StringFromCharCode,
+  StringFromCodePoint,
   StringPrototypeCharCodeAt,
   StringPrototypeCodePointAt,
   StringPrototypeSlice,
@@ -15,6 +16,26 @@ const {
 const kUTF16SurrogateThreshold = 0x10000; // 2 ** 16
 const kEscape = '\x1b';
 const kSubstringSearch = Symbol('kSubstringSearch');
+const kKittyModifierShift = 1;
+const kKittyModifierAlt = 2;
+const kKittyModifierCtrl = 4;
+const kKittyModifierRightAlt = 8;
+
+const kittyEventTypes = {
+  __proto__: null,
+  1: 'press',
+  2: 'repeat',
+  3: 'release',
+};
+
+const kittySpecialKeyNames = {
+  __proto__: null,
+  9: 'tab',
+  13: 'return',
+  27: 'escape',
+  32: 'space',
+  127: 'backspace',
+};
 
 function CSI(strings, ...args) {
   let ret = `${kEscape}[`;
@@ -56,6 +77,77 @@ function charLengthAt(str, i) {
   return StringPrototypeCodePointAt(str, i) >= kUTF16SurrogateThreshold ? 2 : 1;
 }
 
+function decodeKittyCodePoints(text) {
+  if (text === undefined || text === '')
+    return undefined;
+  const chars = StringPrototypeSplit(text, ':');
+  let ret = '';
+  for (let i = 0; i < chars.length; i++) {
+    const code = Number(chars[i]);
+    if (!Number.isInteger(code))
+      return undefined;
+    ret += StringFromCodePoint(code);
+  }
+  return ret;
+}
+
+function getKittyBaseName(codepoint, text) {
+  if (kittySpecialKeyNames[codepoint] !== undefined)
+    return kittySpecialKeyNames[codepoint];
+
+  const source = text?.length ? text :
+    (codepoint > 0 ? StringFromCodePoint(codepoint) : '');
+  if (RegExpPrototypeExec(/^[0-9A-Za-z]$/, source) !== null)
+    return StringPrototypeToLowerCase(source);
+  return undefined;
+}
+
+function parseKittySequence(code, key) {
+  const match = RegExpPrototypeExec(
+    /^(\d+(?::\d+)*)((?:;(?:\d*(?::\d+)?))?)(?:;(\d+(?::\d+)*))?u$/,
+    code,
+  );
+  if (match === null)
+    return false;
+
+  const codepoints = StringPrototypeSplit(match[1], ':');
+  const primaryCodepoint = Number(codepoints[0]);
+  if (!Number.isInteger(primaryCodepoint))
+    return false;
+
+  let modifiers = 1;
+  let eventType = 1;
+  if (match[2] !== '') {
+    const modifierField = StringPrototypeSlice(match[2], 1);
+    if (modifierField !== '') {
+      const modifierParts = StringPrototypeSplit(modifierField, ':');
+      modifiers = Number(modifierParts[0] || '1');
+      if (!Number.isInteger(modifiers))
+        return false;
+      if (modifierParts.length > 1) {
+        eventType = Number(modifierParts[1] || '1');
+        if (!Number.isInteger(eventType))
+          return false;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  const modifierFlags = modifiers - 1;
+  key.ctrl = !!(modifierFlags & kKittyModifierCtrl);
+  key.meta = !!(modifierFlags & (kKittyModifierAlt | kKittyModifierRightAlt));
+  key.shift = !!(modifierFlags & kKittyModifierShift);
+  key.modifiers = modifierFlags;
+  key.eventType = kittyEventTypes[eventType] || 'press';
+  key.code = `[${code}`;
+
+  const text = decodeKittyCodePoints(match[3]);
+  if (text !== undefined)
+    key.text = text;
+
+  key.name = getKittyBaseName(primaryCodepoint, text);
+  return true;
+}
+
 /*
   Some patterns seen in terminal key escape codes, derived from combos seen
   at http://www.midnight-commander.org/browser/lib/tty/key.c
@@ -165,27 +257,8 @@ function* emitKeys(stream) {
          *
          */
         const cmdStart = s.length - 1;
-
-        // Skip one or two leading digits
-        if (ch >= '0' && ch <= '9') {
+        while (ch >= '0' && ch <= '9' || ch === ';' || ch === ':') {
           s += (ch = yield);
-
-          if (ch >= '0' && ch <= '9') {
-            s += (ch = yield);
-
-            if (ch >= '0' && ch <= '9') {
-              s += (ch = yield);
-            }
-          }
-        }
-
-        // skip modifier
-        if (ch === ';') {
-          s += (ch = yield);
-
-          if (ch >= '0' && ch <= '9') {
-            s += yield;
-          }
         }
 
         /*
@@ -202,6 +275,9 @@ function* emitKeys(stream) {
             code += match[1] + match[3];
             modifier = (match[2] || 1) - 1;
           }
+        } else if (cmd.endsWith('u') && parseKittySequence(cmd, key)) {
+          code += cmd;
+          modifier = key.modifiers;
         } else if (
           (match = RegExpPrototypeExec(/^((\d;)?(\d))?([A-Za-z])$/, cmd))
         ) {
@@ -216,10 +292,10 @@ function* emitKeys(stream) {
       key.ctrl = !!(modifier & 4);
       key.meta = !!(modifier & 10);
       key.shift = !!(modifier & 1);
-      key.code = code;
+      key.code ??= code;
 
       // Parse the key itself
-      switch (code) {
+      if (key.name === undefined) switch (code) {
         /* xterm/gnome ESC [ letter (with modifier) */
         case '[P': key.name = 'f1'; break;
         case '[Q': key.name = 'f2'; break;
@@ -366,9 +442,11 @@ function* emitKeys(stream) {
 
     key.sequence = s;
 
+    const keypress = escaped && typeof key.text === 'string' ? key.text : s;
+
     if (s.length !== 0 && (key.name !== undefined || escaped)) {
       /* Named character or sequence */
-      stream.emit('keypress', escaped ? undefined : s, key);
+      stream.emit('keypress', escaped ? keypress : s, key);
     } else if (charLengthAt(s, 0) === s.length) {
       /* Single unnamed character, e.g. "." */
       stream.emit('keypress', s, key);
diff --git a/lib/tty.js b/lib/tty.js
index b1a2d3e7a9bc4d..3b1c29861d90e1 100644
--- a/lib/tty.js
+++ b/lib/tty.js
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ const {
 // Lazy loaded for startup performance.
 let readline;
 
+const kKittyKeyboardProtocolEnhancementDisambiguateEscapeCodes = 1;
+const kKittyKeyboardProtocolRestore = '\x1b[<u';
+
 function isatty(fd) {
   return NumberIsInteger(fd) && fd >= 0 && fd <= 2147483647 &&
          isTTY(fd);
@@ -144,6 +147,31 @@ WriteStream.prototype._refreshSize = function() {
   }
 };
 
+WriteStream.prototype.setKeyboardProtocol = function(protocol, options = {}) {
+  if (protocol === 'legacy') {
+    this.write(kKittyKeyboardProtocolRestore);
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  if (protocol !== 'kitty') {
+    throw new ERR_INVALID_ARG_VALUE('protocol', protocol);
+  }
+
+  let enhancements =
+    kKittyKeyboardProtocolEnhancementDisambiguateEscapeCodes;
+  if (options !== null && typeof options === 'object' &&
+      options.enhancements !== undefined) {
+    enhancements = options.enhancements;
+  }
+
+  if (!NumberIsInteger(enhancements) || enhancements < 0) {
+    throw new ERR_INVALID_ARG_VALUE('options.enhancements', enhancements);
+  }
+
+  this.write(`\x1b[>${enhancements}u`);
+  return this;
+};
+
 // Backwards-compat
 WriteStream.prototype.cursorTo = function(x, y, callback) {
   if (readline === undefined) readline = require('readline');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-readline-emit-keypress-events.js b/test/parallel/test-readline-emit-keypress-events.js
index a9ffd3276c419c..e25528f8ca37cf 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-readline-emit-keypress-events.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-readline-emit-keypress-events.js
@@ -14,6 +14,28 @@ const expectedKeys = [
   { sequence: 'o', name: 'o', ctrl: false, meta: false, shift: false },
   { sequence: 'o', name: 'o', ctrl: false, meta: false, shift: false },
 ];
+const kittyExpectedKeys = [
+  {
+    sequence: '\x1b[127u',
+    name: 'backspace',
+    ctrl: false,
+    meta: false,
+    shift: false,
+    modifiers: 0,
+    eventType: 'press',
+    code: '[127u',
+  },
+  {
+    sequence: '\x1b[99;5u',
+    name: 'c',
+    ctrl: true,
+    meta: false,
+    shift: false,
+    modifiers: 4,
+    eventType: 'press',
+    code: '[99;5u',
+  },
+];
 
 {
   const stream = new PassThrough();
@@ -31,6 +53,22 @@ const expectedKeys = [
   assert.deepStrictEqual(keys, expectedKeys);
 }
 
+{
+  const stream = new PassThrough();
+  const sequence = [];
+  const keys = [];
+
+  readline.emitKeypressEvents(stream);
+  stream.on('keypress', (s, k) => {
+    sequence.push(s);
+    keys.push(k);
+  });
+  stream.write('\x1b[127u\x1b[99;5u');
+
+  assert.deepStrictEqual(sequence, ['\x1b[127u', '\x1b[99;5u']);
+  assert.deepStrictEqual(keys, kittyExpectedKeys);
+}
+
 {
   const stream = new PassThrough();
   const sequence = [];
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-readline-keys.js b/test/parallel/test-readline-keys.js
index 4379193b82f1ed..ec41d058ff6fdb 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-readline-keys.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-readline-keys.js
@@ -127,6 +127,15 @@ addTest('\x01\x0b\x10', [
   { name: 'p', sequence: '\x10', ctrl: true },
 ]);
 
+// kitty keyboard protocol (`CSI ... u`)
+addTest('\x1b[127u\x1b[107;5u\x1b[97;3u\x1b[97;2;65u\x1b[97;5:3u', [
+  { name: 'backspace', sequence: '\x1b[127u', code: '[127u', modifiers: 0, eventType: 'press' },
+  { name: 'k', sequence: '\x1b[107;5u', code: '[107;5u', ctrl: true, modifiers: 4, eventType: 'press' },
+  { name: 'a', sequence: '\x1b[97;3u', code: '[97;3u', meta: true, modifiers: 2, eventType: 'press' },
+  { name: 'a', sequence: '\x1b[97;2;65u', code: '[97;2;65u', shift: true, modifiers: 1, eventType: 'press', text: 'A' },
+  { name: 'a', sequence: '\x1b[97;5:3u', code: '[97;5:3u', ctrl: true, modifiers: 4, eventType: 'release' },
+]);
+
 // Alt keys
 addTest('a\x1baA\x1bA', [
   { name: 'a', sequence: 'a' },
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-readline-set-raw-mode.js b/test/parallel/test-readline-set-raw-mode.js
index 57015077781fd0..3a6e601347b93f 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-readline-set-raw-mode.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-readline-set-raw-mode.js
@@ -30,11 +30,17 @@ let expectedRawMode = true;
 let rawModeCalled = false;
 let resumeCalled = false;
 let pauseCalled = false;
+const keyboardProtocols = [];
+
+stream.isTTY = true;
 
 stream.setRawMode = common.mustCallAtLeast(function(mode) {
   rawModeCalled = true;
   assert.strictEqual(mode, expectedRawMode);
 });
+stream.setKeyboardProtocol = common.mustCall(function(protocol) {
+  keyboardProtocols.push(protocol);
+}, 2);
 stream.resume = function() {
   resumeCalled = true;
 };
@@ -53,6 +59,7 @@ assert(rli.terminal);
 assert(rawModeCalled);
 assert(resumeCalled);
 assert(!pauseCalled);
+assert.deepStrictEqual(keyboardProtocols, ['kitty']);
 
 
 // pause() should call *not* call setRawMode()
@@ -84,6 +91,7 @@ rli.close();
 assert(rawModeCalled);
 assert(!resumeCalled);
 assert(pauseCalled);
+assert.deepStrictEqual(keyboardProtocols, ['kitty', 'legacy']);
 
 assert.deepStrictEqual(stream.listeners('keypress'), []);
 // One data listener for the keypress events.