diff --git a/wl.c b/wl.c
index dd57216..0cd9d26 100644
--- a/wl.c
+++ b/wl.c
@@ -352,10 +352,11 @@ releasegrab(void)
 }
 
 /*
- * The context is going: give the client its keys back.  The engine's
- * pending text goes nowhere, because the compositor sends the text input
- * its leave before it sends us the deactivate, and a commit with nothing
- * focused to take it is dropped whatever serial it carries.
+ * The context is going: give the client its keys back and the pending
+ * text, as a lost focus does everywhere else.  A client that only
+ * disabled its text input still holds the focus and takes the commit;
+ * when the focus itself moved, the compositor sent the text input its
+ * leave first and drops the commit whatever serial it carries.
  */
 static void
 leave(void)
@@ -365,6 +366,7 @@ leave(void)
 	releasekeys();
 	if(engaged){
 		sendrequest(Keyrelease, 0, 0, &res);
+		answer(&res, "");
 		engaged = 0;
 		takedraw();
 	}