diff --git a/cmd/entire/cli/activity_tui.go b/cmd/entire/cli/activity_tui.go
index 160ec93538..72f2be204e 100644
--- a/cmd/entire/cli/activity_tui.go
+++ b/cmd/entire/cli/activity_tui.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/key"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/spinner"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/viewport"
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ func (m activityModel) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) { //nolint:iretu
 		return m, nil
 
 	case tea.KeyMsg:
-		if msg.Type == tea.KeyEscape || msg.Type == tea.KeyCtrlC || msg.String() == "q" {
+		if key.Matches(msg, keys.Quit) || key.Matches(msg, keys.Back) {
 			return m, tea.Quit
 		}
 
@@ -222,7 +223,7 @@ func (m activityModel) renderFooter() string {
 	}
 
 	return keyStyle.Render("↑↓") + helpStyle.Render(" scroll") +
-		sep + keyStyle.Render("q") + helpStyle.Render(" quit") +
+		sep + keyStyle.Render(keys.Quit.Help().Key) + helpStyle.Render(" "+keys.Quit.Help().Desc) +
 		scrollPct
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/entire/cli/dispatch_tui.go b/cmd/entire/cli/dispatch_tui.go
index b2773efc17..72c87d4f6d 100644
--- a/cmd/entire/cli/dispatch_tui.go
+++ b/cmd/entire/cli/dispatch_tui.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/key"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/spinner"
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/glamour"
@@ -60,8 +61,6 @@ var newDispatchProgram = func(model tea.Model, outW io.Writer, altScreen bool) d
 	return tea.NewProgram(model, options...)
 }
 
-const tuiEscKey = "esc"
-
 func defaultRunInteractiveDispatch(ctx context.Context, outW io.Writer, opts dispatchpkg.Options) (string, error) {
 	runCtx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 	defer cancel()
@@ -381,8 +380,7 @@ func (m dispatchStatusModel) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.result = msg
 		return m, tea.Quit
 	case tea.KeyMsg:
-		switch msg.String() {
-		case tea.KeyCtrlC.String(), tuiEscKey, "q":
+		if key.Matches(msg, keys.Quit) || key.Matches(msg, keys.Back) {
 			if m.cancel != nil {
 				m.cancel()
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/entire/cli/keys.go b/cmd/entire/cli/keys.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c8d11ad106
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/entire/cli/keys.go
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+package cli
+
+import "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/key"
+
+// keyMap defines the keybindings used across the CLI's TUIs. Single source of
+// truth so help text and matching logic stay aligned, and so the strings "esc",
+// "ctrl+c", etc. live in exactly one place.
+type keyMap struct {
+	Quit     key.Binding
+	Back     key.Binding
+	Search   key.Binding
+	Confirm  key.Binding
+	Up       key.Binding
+	Down     key.Binding
+	NextPage key.Binding
+	PrevPage key.Binding
+	Home     key.Binding
+	End      key.Binding
+}
+
+var keys = keyMap{
+	Quit: key.NewBinding(
+		key.WithKeys("q", "ctrl+c"),
+		key.WithHelp("q", "quit"),
+	),
+	Back: key.NewBinding(
+		key.WithKeys("esc"),
+		key.WithHelp("esc", "back"),
+	),
+	Search: key.NewBinding(
+		key.WithKeys("/"),
+		key.WithHelp("/", "search"),
+	),
+	Confirm: key.NewBinding(
+		key.WithKeys("enter"),
+		key.WithHelp("enter", "select"),
+	),
+	Up: key.NewBinding(
+		key.WithKeys("up", "k"),
+		key.WithHelp("↑/k", "up"),
+	),
+	Down: key.NewBinding(
+		key.WithKeys("down", "j"),
+		key.WithHelp("↓/j", "down"),
+	),
+	NextPage: key.NewBinding(
+		key.WithKeys("n", "right"),
+		key.WithHelp("n/→", "next page"),
+	),
+	PrevPage: key.NewBinding(
+		key.WithKeys("p", "left"),
+		key.WithHelp("p/←", "prev page"),
+	),
+	Home: key.NewBinding(
+		key.WithKeys("home", "g"),
+		key.WithHelp("g/home", "top"),
+	),
+	End: key.NewBinding(
+		key.WithKeys("end", "G"),
+		key.WithHelp("G/end", "bottom"),
+	),
+}
diff --git a/cmd/entire/cli/search_tui.go b/cmd/entire/cli/search_tui.go
index 4274f3b63f..67aab1b779 100644
--- a/cmd/entire/cli/search_tui.go
+++ b/cmd/entire/cli/search_tui.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"charm.land/glamour/v2/ansi"
 	glamourstyles "charm.land/glamour/v2/styles"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/cursor"
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/key"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/textinput"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/viewport"
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
@@ -84,6 +85,13 @@ func newSearchStyles(ss statusStyles) searchStyles {
 	return s
 }
 
+// helpItem renders a "<key> <desc>" pair for a TUI help footer using the
+// shared helpKey style. keyLabel may come from a key.Binding's Help().Key or
+// be a composite literal like "j/k".
+func (s searchStyles) helpItem(keyLabel, desc string) string {
+	return s.render(s.helpKey, keyLabel) + " " + desc
+}
+
 const resultsPerPage = 25
 
 // searchModel is the bubbletea model for interactive search results.
@@ -249,13 +257,13 @@ func (m searchModel) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) { //nolint:ireturn
 }
 
 func (m searchModel) updateSearchMode(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) { //nolint:ireturn // bubbletea pattern
-	switch msg.String() {
-	case tuiEscKey:
+	switch {
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Back):
 		m.mode = modeBrowse
 		m.input.Blur()
 		m = m.refreshBrowseContent()
 		return m, nil
-	case "enter":
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Confirm):
 		raw := strings.TrimSpace(m.input.Value())
 		if raw == "" {
 			return m, nil
@@ -291,25 +299,25 @@ func (m searchModel) updateSearchMode(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) { //n
 
 func (m searchModel) updateBrowseMode(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) { //nolint:ireturn // bubbletea pattern
 	pageLen := len(m.pageResults())
-	switch msg.String() {
-	case "q", "ctrl+c", tuiEscKey, "h":
+	switch {
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Quit), key.Matches(msg, keys.Back), msg.String() == "h":
 		return m, tea.Quit
-	case "up", "k":
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Up):
 		if m.cursor > 0 {
 			m.cursor--
 			m = m.refreshBrowseContent()
 		}
-	case "down", "j":
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Down):
 		if m.cursor < pageLen-1 {
 			m.cursor++
 			m = m.refreshBrowseContent()
 		}
-	case "home", "g":
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Home):
 		m.page = 0
 		m.cursor = 0
 		m = m.refreshBrowseContent()
 		m.browseVP.GotoTop()
-	case "end", "G":
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.End):
 		if len(m.results) > 0 {
 			lastLoaded := len(m.results) - 1
 			m.page = min(lastLoaded/resultsPerPage, m.totalPages()-1)
@@ -319,7 +327,7 @@ func (m searchModel) updateBrowseMode(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) { //n
 			m = m.refreshBrowseContent()
 			m.browseVP.GotoBottom()
 		}
-	case "n", "right":
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.NextPage):
 		if m.page < m.totalPages()-1 {
 			m.page++
 			m.cursor = 0
@@ -333,14 +341,14 @@ func (m searchModel) updateBrowseMode(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) { //n
 			}
 			m = m.refreshBrowseContent()
 		}
-	case "p", "left":
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.PrevPage):
 		if m.page > 0 {
 			m.page--
 			m.cursor = 0
 			m.browseVP.GotoTop()
 			m = m.refreshBrowseContent()
 		}
-	case "enter":
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Confirm):
 		if r := m.selectedResult(); r != nil {
 			m.mode = modeDetail
 			content := m.renderDetailContent(*r, m.width, true)
@@ -348,7 +356,7 @@ func (m searchModel) updateBrowseMode(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) { //n
 			m.detailVP.SetContent(content)
 			return m, nil
 		}
-	case "/":
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Search):
 		m.mode = modeSearch
 		m.input.Focus()
 		return m, m.input.Cursor.SetMode(cursor.CursorBlink)
@@ -362,13 +370,13 @@ func (m searchModel) updateBrowseMode(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) { //n
 }
 
 func (m searchModel) updateDetailMode(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) { //nolint:ireturn // bubbletea pattern
-	switch msg.String() {
-	case tuiEscKey, "backspace":
+	switch {
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Quit):
+		return m, tea.Quit
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Back), msg.String() == "backspace":
 		m.mode = modeBrowse
 		return m, nil
-	case "q", "ctrl+c":
-		return m, tea.Quit
-	case "/":
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Search):
 		m.mode = modeSearch
 		m.input.Focus()
 		return m, m.input.Cursor.SetMode(cursor.CursorBlink)
@@ -693,11 +701,10 @@ func (m searchModel) viewDetailFull() string {
 
 	// Scroll indicator + help
 	scrollPct := m.styles.render(m.styles.dim, fmt.Sprintf("%3.f%%", m.detailVP.ScrollPercent()*100))
-	help := m.styles.render(m.styles.helpKey, "j/k") + " scroll" +
-		m.styles.render(m.styles.helpSep, " · ") +
-		m.styles.render(m.styles.helpKey, tuiEscKey) + " back" +
-		m.styles.render(m.styles.helpSep, " · ") +
-		m.styles.render(m.styles.helpKey, "q") + " quit"
+	dot := m.styles.render(m.styles.helpSep, " · ")
+	help := m.styles.helpItem("j/k", "scroll") + dot +
+		m.styles.helpItem(keys.Back.Help().Key, keys.Back.Help().Desc) + dot +
+		m.styles.helpItem(keys.Quit.Help().Key, keys.Quit.Help().Desc)
 
 	gap := m.width - lipgloss.Width(help) - lipgloss.Width(scrollPct) - 2
 	if gap < 1 {
@@ -712,19 +719,19 @@ func (m searchModel) viewHelp() string {
 	dot := m.styles.render(m.styles.helpSep, " · ")
 
 	if m.mode == modeSearch {
-		return m.styles.render(m.styles.helpKey, "enter") + " search" + dot +
-			m.styles.render(m.styles.helpKey, tuiEscKey) + " cancel" + "\n"
+		return m.styles.helpItem(keys.Confirm.Help().Key, "search") + dot +
+			m.styles.helpItem(keys.Back.Help().Key, "cancel") + "\n"
 	}
 
 	pages := m.totalPages()
 
-	left := m.styles.render(m.styles.helpKey, "/") + " search" + dot +
-		m.styles.render(m.styles.helpKey, "↑/↓, j/k") + " scroll" + dot +
-		m.styles.render(m.styles.helpKey, "home/end, g/G") + " top/bottom"
+	left := m.styles.helpItem(keys.Search.Help().Key, keys.Search.Help().Desc) + dot +
+		m.styles.helpItem("↑/↓, j/k", "scroll") + dot +
+		m.styles.helpItem("home/end, g/G", "top/bottom")
 	if pages > 1 {
-		left += dot + m.styles.render(m.styles.helpKey, "n/p") + " page"
+		left += dot + m.styles.helpItem("n/p", "page")
 	}
-	left += dot + m.styles.render(m.styles.helpKey, "q") + " quit"
+	left += dot + m.styles.helpItem(keys.Quit.Help().Key, keys.Quit.Help().Desc)
 
 	right := fmt.Sprintf("%d results", m.total)
 	if pages > 1 {