diff --git a/src/lib/termdesc.c b/src/lib/termdesc.c
index 80b459b66..f37ebee1e 100644
--- a/src/lib/termdesc.c
+++ b/src/lib/termdesc.c
@@ -321,25 +321,22 @@ init_terminfo_esc(tinfo* ti, const char* name, escape_e idx,
 // request kitty keyboard protocol through level 1, first pushing current.
 // see https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/keyboard-protocol/#progressive-enhancement
 // FIXME go to level 11, but first need handle all functional keys
-#define KBDSUPPORT "\x1b[>u\x1b[=1u"
+#define KBDSUPPORT "\x1b[=1u"
 
 // the kitty keyboard protocol allows unambiguous, complete identification of
 // input events. this queries for the level of support. we want to do this
 // because the "keyboard pop" control code is mishandled by kitty < 0.20.0.
 #define KBDQUERY "\x1b[?u"
 
-// Set modifyFunctionKeys (2) if supported, allowing us to disambiguate
-// function keys when used with modifiers. Set modifyOtherKeys (4) if
-// supported.
+// set modifyFunctionKeys (2) if supported, allowing us to disambiguate
+// function keys when used with modifiers. set modifyOtherKeys (4) if
+// supported. these ought follow keyboard push and precede kitty keyboard.
 #define XTMODKEYS "\x1b[>2;1m\x1b[>4;1m"
 
-// these queries (terminated with a Primary Device Attributes, to which
-// all known terminals reply) hopefully can uniquely and unquestionably
-// identify the terminal to which we are talking.
-#define IDQUERIES KITTYQUERY \
-                  KBDSUPPORT \
-                  KBDQUERY \
-                  TRIDEVATTR \
+// these queries can hopefully uniquely and unquestionably identify the
+// terminal to which we are talking. if we already know what we're talking
+// to, there's no point in sending them.
+#define IDQUERIES TRIDEVATTR \
                   XTVERSION \
                   XTGETTCAPTN \
                   SECDEVATTR
@@ -373,8 +370,13 @@ init_terminfo_esc(tinfo* ti, const char* name, escape_e idx,
 
 #define DIRECTIVES CSI_BGQ \
                    SUMQUERY \
-                   XTMODKEYS \
                    "\x1b[?1;3;256S" /* try to set 256 cregs */ \
+                   KKEYBOARD_PUSH \
+                   XTMODKEYS \
+                   KITTYQUERY \
+                   XTMODKEYS \
+                   KBDSUPPORT \
+                   KBDQUERY \
                    CREGSXTSM \
                    GEOMXTSM \
                    GEOMPIXEL \
diff --git a/src/lib/termdesc.h b/src/lib/termdesc.h
index ff5df0acf..18115c18d 100644
--- a/src/lib/termdesc.h
+++ b/src/lib/termdesc.h
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ extern "C" {
 #include "fbuf.h"
 #include "in.h"
 
-#define KKEYBOARD_POP "\x1b[<u"
+#define KKEYBOARD_POP  "\x1b[<u"
+#define KKEYBOARD_PUSH "\x1b[>u"
 
 struct ncpile;
 struct sprixel;