diff --git a/src/menus/transient/virtual-keyboard.c b/src/menus/transient/virtual-keyboard.c
index d09480014..e6449904e 100644
--- a/src/menus/transient/virtual-keyboard.c
+++ b/src/menus/transient/virtual-keyboard.c
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ void M_MenuTypingInput(INT32 key)
 	if (!menutyping.keyboardtyping)	// controller inputs
 	{
 		// we pressed a keyboard input that's not any of our buttons
-		if (M_IsTypingKey(key) && menucmd[pid].dpad_lr == 0 && menucmd[pid].dpad_ud == 0
+		if (key >= 0 && M_IsTypingKey(key) && menucmd[pid].dpad_lr == 0 && menucmd[pid].dpad_ud == 0
 			&& !(menucmd[pid].buttons & MBT_A)
 			&& !(menucmd[pid].buttons & MBT_B)
 			&& !(menucmd[pid].buttons & MBT_C)
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ void M_MenuTypingInput(INT32 key)
 	else	// Keyboard inputs.
 	{
 		// On the flipside, if we're pressing any keyboard input, switch to controller inputs.
-		if (!M_IsTypingKey(key) && (
+		if (key >= 0 && !M_IsTypingKey(key) && (
 			M_MenuButtonPressed(pid, MBT_A)
 			|| M_MenuButtonPressed(pid, MBT_B)
 			|| M_MenuButtonPressed(pid, MBT_C)