diff --git a/display/display.c b/display/display.c
index 65e6bf11..81813e90 100644
--- a/display/display.c
+++ b/display/display.c
@@ -1003,6 +1003,8 @@ display_scale(void)
  */
 unsigned long spacewar_switches = 0;
 
+unsigned char display_last_char;
+
 /* here from window system */
 void
 display_keydown(int k)
diff --git a/display/display.h b/display/display.h
index c8b6af85..345102cb 100644
--- a/display/display.h
+++ b/display/display.h
@@ -195,6 +195,11 @@ extern unsigned long spacewar_switches;
     SWSW('m', 'M',  01000000000, LR, CCW) /* rotate L */        \
     SWSW('/', '?',  02000000000, LR, HYPER) /* hyperspace */
 
+/*
+ * The last character typed in the display window.
+ */
+extern unsigned char display_last_char;
+
 /*
  * light pen "tip switch" activated (for VS60 emulation etc.)
  * should only be set from "driver" (window system layer)
diff --git a/display/sim_ws.c b/display/sim_ws.c
index 7c88f242..bf61e196 100644
--- a/display/sim_ws.c
+++ b/display/sim_ws.c
@@ -134,6 +134,63 @@ map_key(int k)
     return k;
 }
 
+
+static void
+key_to_ascii (SIM_KEY_EVENT *kev)
+{
+    static t_bool k_ctrl, k_shift, k_alt, k_win;
+
+#define MODKEY(L, R, mod)   \
+    case L: case R: mod = (kev->state != SIM_KEYPRESS_UP); break;
+#define MODIFIER_KEYS       \
+    MODKEY(SIM_KEY_ALT_L,    SIM_KEY_ALT_R,      k_alt)     \
+    MODKEY(SIM_KEY_CTRL_L,   SIM_KEY_CTRL_R,     k_ctrl)    \
+    MODKEY(SIM_KEY_SHIFT_L,  SIM_KEY_SHIFT_R,    k_shift)   \
+    MODKEY(SIM_KEY_WIN_L,    SIM_KEY_WIN_R,      k_win)
+#define SPCLKEY(K, LC, UC)  \
+    case K:                                                 \
+        if (kev->state != SIM_KEYPRESS_UP)                  \
+            display_last_char = (unsigned char)(k_shift ? UC : LC);\
+        break;
+#define SPECIAL_CHAR_KEYS   \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_BACKQUOTE,      '`',  '~')              \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_MINUS,          '-',  '_')              \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_EQUALS,         '=',  '+')              \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_LEFT_BRACKET,   '[',  '{')              \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_RIGHT_BRACKET,  ']',  '}')              \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_SEMICOLON,      ';',  ':')              \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_SINGLE_QUOTE,   '\'', '"')              \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_LEFT_BACKSLASH, '\\', '|')              \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_COMMA,          ',',  '<')              \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_PERIOD,         '.',  '>')              \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_SLASH,          '/',  '?')              \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_ESC,            '\033', '\033')         \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_BACKSPACE,      '\177', '\177')       \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_TAB,            '\t', '\t')             \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_ENTER,          '\r', '\r')             \
+    SPCLKEY(SIM_KEY_SPACE,          ' ', ' ')
+
+    switch (kev->key) {
+        MODIFIER_KEYS
+        SPECIAL_CHAR_KEYS
+        case SIM_KEY_0: case SIM_KEY_1: case SIM_KEY_2: case SIM_KEY_3: case SIM_KEY_4:
+        case SIM_KEY_5: case SIM_KEY_6: case SIM_KEY_7: case SIM_KEY_8: case SIM_KEY_9:
+            if (kev->state != SIM_KEYPRESS_UP)
+                display_last_char = (unsigned char)('0' + (kev->key - SIM_KEY_0)); 
+            break;
+        case SIM_KEY_A: case SIM_KEY_B: case SIM_KEY_C: case SIM_KEY_D: case SIM_KEY_E:
+        case SIM_KEY_F: case SIM_KEY_G: case SIM_KEY_H: case SIM_KEY_I: case SIM_KEY_J:
+        case SIM_KEY_K: case SIM_KEY_L: case SIM_KEY_M: case SIM_KEY_N: case SIM_KEY_O:
+        case SIM_KEY_P: case SIM_KEY_Q: case SIM_KEY_R: case SIM_KEY_S: case SIM_KEY_T:
+        case SIM_KEY_U: case SIM_KEY_V: case SIM_KEY_W: case SIM_KEY_X: case SIM_KEY_Y:
+        case SIM_KEY_Z: 
+            if (kev->state != SIM_KEYPRESS_UP)
+                display_last_char = (unsigned char)((kev->key - SIM_KEY_A) + 
+                                        (k_ctrl ? 1 : (k_shift ? 'A' : 'a')));
+            break;
+        }
+}
+
 int
 ws_poll(int *valp, int maxus)
 {
@@ -172,6 +229,7 @@ ws_poll(int *valp, int maxus)
                 display_keyup(map_key(kev.key));
                 break;
             }
+        key_to_ascii (&kev);
         }
     return 1;
 }