diff --git a/src/getchar.c b/src/getchar.c
index fab721b..1e03b86 100644
--- a/src/getchar.c
+++ b/src/getchar.c
@@ -3263,12 +3263,14 @@
  * get a character: 3. from the user - handle <Esc> in Insert mode
  */
 		/*
-		 * Special case: if we get an <ESC> in insert mode and there
+		 * Special case: if we get an <ESC> in Insert mode and there
 		 * are no more characters at once, we pretend to go out of
-		 * insert mode.  This prevents the one second delay after
+		 * Insert mode.  This prevents the one second delay after
 		 * typing an <ESC>.  If we get something after all, we may
 		 * have to redisplay the mode. That the cursor is in the wrong
 		 * place does not matter.
+		 * Do not do this if the kitty keyboard protocol is used, every
+		 * <ESC> is the start of an escape sequence then.
 		 */
 		c = 0;
 		new_wcol = curwin->w_wcol;
@@ -3277,6 +3279,7 @@
 			&& typebuf.tb_len == 1
 			&& typebuf.tb_buf[typebuf.tb_off] == ESC
 			&& !no_mapping
+			&& kitty_protocol_state != KKPS_ENABLED
 			&& ex_normal_busy == 0
 			&& typebuf.tb_maplen == 0
 			&& (State & MODE_INSERT)