diff --git a/key.go b/key.go
index 7f05b87..e2415a9 100644
--- a/key.go
+++ b/key.go
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ const (
 	KeyPgUp
 	KeyPgDown
 	KeyDelete
+	KeySpace
 	KeyCtrlUp
 	KeyCtrlDown
 	KeyCtrlRight
@@ -274,6 +275,7 @@ var keyNames = map[KeyType]string{
 	KeyUp:             "up",
 	KeyDown:           "down",
 	KeyRight:          "right",
+	KeySpace:          " ", // for backwards compatibility
 	KeyLeft:           "left",
 	KeyShiftTab:       "shift+tab",
 	KeyHome:           "home",
@@ -552,6 +554,14 @@ func readInputs(input io.Reader) ([]Msg, error) {
 		}, nil
 	}
 
+	// If it's a space, override the type with KeySpace (but still include the
+	// rune).
+	if runes[0] == ' ' {
+		return []Msg{
+			KeyMsg(Key{Type: KeySpace, Runes: runes}),
+		}, nil
+	}
+
 	// Welp, it's just a regular, ol' single rune.
 	return []Msg{
 		KeyMsg(Key{Type: KeyRunes, Runes: runes}),
diff --git a/key_test.go b/key_test.go
index b8ce47d..511ae75 100644
--- a/key_test.go
+++ b/key_test.go
@@ -8,9 +8,8 @@ import (
 func TestKeyString(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("alt+space", func(t *testing.T) {
 		if got := KeyMsg(Key{
-			Type:  KeyRunes,
-			Runes: []rune{' '},
-			Alt:   true,
+			Type: KeySpace,
+			Alt:  true,
 		}).String(); got != "alt+ " {
 			t.Fatalf(`expected a "alt+ ", got %q`, got)
 		}
@@ -36,10 +35,7 @@ func TestKeyString(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestKeyTypeString(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("space", func(t *testing.T) {
-		if got := KeyMsg(Key{
-			Type:  KeyRunes,
-			Runes: []rune{' '},
-		}).String(); got != " " {
+		if got := KeySpace.String(); got != " " {
 			t.Fatalf(`expected a " ", got %q`, got)
 		}
 	})