diff --git a/src/lib/direct.c b/src/lib/direct.c
index 7b75adb44..c91b10643 100644
--- a/src/lib/direct.c
+++ b/src/lib/direct.c
@@ -107,10 +107,11 @@ int ncdirect_cursor_up(ncdirect* nc, int num){
   if(num == 0){
     return 0;
   }
-  if(!nc->tcache.cuu){
-    return -1;
+  const char* cuu = get_escape(&nc->tcache, ESCAPE_CUU);
+  if(cuu){
+    return term_emit(tiparm(cuu, num), nc->ttyfp, false);
   }
-  return term_emit(tiparm(nc->tcache.cuu, num), nc->ttyfp, false);
+  return -1;
 }
 
 int ncdirect_cursor_left(ncdirect* nc, int num){
@@ -120,10 +121,11 @@ int ncdirect_cursor_left(ncdirect* nc, int num){
   if(num == 0){
     return 0;
   }
-  if(!nc->tcache.cub){
-    return -1;
+  const char* cub = get_escape(&nc->tcache, ESCAPE_CUB);
+  if(cub){
+    return term_emit(tiparm(cub, num), nc->ttyfp, false);
   }
-  return term_emit(tiparm(nc->tcache.cub, num), nc->ttyfp, false);
+  return -1;
 }
 
 int ncdirect_cursor_right(ncdirect* nc, int num){
@@ -133,10 +135,11 @@ int ncdirect_cursor_right(ncdirect* nc, int num){
   if(num == 0){
     return 0;
   }
-  if(!nc->tcache.cuf){ // FIXME fall back to cuf1
-    return -1;
+  const char* cuf = get_escape(&nc->tcache, ESCAPE_CUF);
+  if(cuf){
+    return term_emit(tiparm(cuf, num), nc->ttyfp, false);
   }
-  return term_emit(tiparm(nc->tcache.cuf, num), nc->ttyfp, false);
+  return -1; // FIXME fall back to cuf1?
 }
 
 // if we're on the last line, we need some scrolling action. rather than
@@ -274,25 +277,30 @@ detect_cursor_inversion(ncdirect* n, int rows, int cols, int* y, int* x){
   // do not use normal ncdirect_cursor_*() commands, because those go to ttyfp
   // instead of ctermfd. since we always talk directly to the terminal, we need
   // to move the cursor directly via the terminal.
-  if(!n->tcache.cud || !n->tcache.cub || !n->tcache.cuf || !n->tcache.cuu){
+  const char* cuu = get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_CUU);
+  const char* cuf = get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_CUF);
+  const char* cub = get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_CUB);
+  // FIXME do we want to use cud here, or \v like above?
+  const char* cud = get_escape(&n->tcache, ESCAPE_CUD);
+  if(!cud || !cub || !cuf || !cuu){
     return -1;
   }
   int movex;
   int movey;
   if(*x == cols && *y == 1){
-    if(tty_emit(tiparm(n->tcache.cud, 1), n->ctermfd)){
+    if(tty_emit(tiparm(cud, 1), n->ctermfd)){
       return -1;
     }
-    if(tty_emit(tiparm(n->tcache.cub, 1), n->ctermfd)){
+    if(tty_emit(tiparm(cub, 1), n->ctermfd)){
       return -1;
     }
     movex = 1;
     movey = -1;
   }else{
-    if(tty_emit(tiparm(n->tcache.cuu, 1), n->ctermfd)){
+    if(tty_emit(tiparm(cuu, 1), n->ctermfd)){
       return -1;
     }
-    if(tty_emit(tiparm(n->tcache.cuf, 1), n->ctermfd)){
+    if(tty_emit(tiparm(cuf, 1), n->ctermfd)){
       return -1;
     }
     movex = -1;
@@ -308,10 +316,10 @@ detect_cursor_inversion(ncdirect* n, int rows, int cols, int* y, int* x){
     *y = newy;
     newy = 1;
   }
-  if(tty_emit(tiparm(movex == 1 ? n->tcache.cuf : n->tcache.cub, 1), n->ctermfd)){
+  if(tty_emit(tiparm(movex == 1 ? cuf : cub, 1), n->ctermfd)){
     return -1;
   }
-  if(tty_emit(tiparm(movey == 1 ? n->tcache.cud : n->tcache.cuu, 1), n->ctermfd)){
+  if(tty_emit(tiparm(movey == 1 ? cud : cuu, 1), n->ctermfd)){
     return -1;
   }
   if(*y == newy && *x == newx){
diff --git a/src/lib/render.c b/src/lib/render.c
index efce13bd7..78bf23589 100644
--- a/src/lib/render.c
+++ b/src/lib/render.c
@@ -817,8 +817,9 @@ goto_location(notcurses* nc, FILE* out, int y, int x){
     if(nc->rstate.x == x){ // needn't move shit
       return 0;
     }
-    if(x == nc->rstate.x + 1 && nc->tcache.cuf1){
-      ret = term_emit(nc->tcache.cuf1, out, false);
+    const char* cuf1 = get_escape(&nc->tcache, ESCAPE_CUF1);
+    if(x == nc->rstate.x + 1 && cuf1){
+      ret = term_emit(cuf1, out, false);
     }else{
       ret = term_emit(tiparm(hpa, x), out, false);
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/termdesc.h b/src/lib/termdesc.h
index ee2f2ab90..60e8b00b4 100644
--- a/src/lib/termdesc.h
+++ b/src/lib/termdesc.h
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ typedef enum {
   ESCAPE_OC,       // "oc" restore original colors
   ESCAPE_SITM,     // "sitm" start italics
   ESCAPE_RITM,     // "ritm" end italics
+  ESCAPE_CUU,      // "cuu" move n cells up
+  ESCAPE_CUB,      // "cub" move n cells back (left)
+  ESCAPE_CUF,      // "cuf" move n cells forward (right)
+  ESCAPE_CUD,      // "cud" move n cells down
+  ESCAPE_CUF1,     // "cuf1" move 1 cell forward (right)
   ESCAPE_MAX
 } escape_e;
 
@@ -51,11 +56,6 @@ typedef struct tinfo {
   uint16_t escindices[ESCAPE_MAX]; // table of 1-biased indices into esctable
   char* esctable;                  // packed table of escape sequences
   unsigned colors;// number of colors terminfo reported usable for this screen
-  char* cuu;      // move N cells up
-  char* cub;      // move N cells left
-  char* cuf;      // move N cells right
-  char* cud;      // move N cells down
-  char* cuf1;     // move 1 cell right
   char* home;     // home cursor
   char* struck;   // NCSTYLE_STRUCK
   char* struckoff;// NCSTYLE_STRUCK (disable)
diff --git a/src/lib/terminfo.c b/src/lib/terminfo.c
index 4b8d07d35..b8622f818 100644
--- a/src/lib/terminfo.c
+++ b/src/lib/terminfo.c
@@ -208,6 +208,11 @@ int interrogate_terminfo(tinfo* ti, int fd, const char* termname,
     { ESCAPE_SGR0, "sgr0", },
     { ESCAPE_SITM, "sitm", },
     { ESCAPE_RITM, "ritm", },
+    { ESCAPE_CUD, "cud", },
+    { ESCAPE_CUU, "cuu", },
+    { ESCAPE_CUF, "cuf", },
+    { ESCAPE_CUF1, "cuf1", },
+    { ESCAPE_CUB, "cub", },
     { ESCAPE_MAX, NULL, },
   };
   size_t tablelen = 0;
@@ -248,11 +253,6 @@ int interrogate_terminfo(tinfo* ti, int fd, const char* termname,
   }
   terminfostr(&ti->home, "home");     // home the cursor
   terminfostr(&ti->clearscr, "clear");// clear screen, home cursor
-  terminfostr(&ti->cuu, "cuu"); // move N up
-  terminfostr(&ti->cud, "cud"); // move N down
-  terminfostr(&ti->cuf, "cuf"); // n non-destructive spaces
-  terminfostr(&ti->cub, "cub"); // n non-destructive backspaces
-  terminfostr(&ti->cuf1, "cuf1"); // non-destructive space
   terminfostr(&ti->sc, "sc"); // push ("save") cursor
   terminfostr(&ti->rc, "rc"); // pop ("restore") cursor
   // we don't actually use the bold capability -- we use sgr exclusively.