diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index a4912b7..3bd0490 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -13,9 +13,10 @@
 * The aborted exchange is recorded in history with an
   `[Interrupted by user before completing.]` marker so the next turn's
   model sees that the prior turn ended early.
-* In `corteza::chat()` running under RStudio, Esc fires the interrupt
-  as expected. In the terminal CLI, only Ctrl+C is an interrupt —
-  terminals send raw `^[` for Esc, which is not a signal.
+* Interrupt keys differ by environment: in the RStudio console
+  `corteza::chat()` is interrupted by **Esc** (RStudio's console
+  intercepts Ctrl+C for copy). In the terminal `~/bin/corteza` CLI it's
+  **Ctrl+C** — terminals send raw `^[` for Esc, which is not a signal.
 
 ## Other
 
diff --git a/R/chat-slash.R b/R/chat-slash.R
index 8a92a56..8c67bad 100644
--- a/R/chat-slash.R
+++ b/R/chat-slash.R
@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@ chat_help_text <- function() {
           "  /skill remove <name>          Remove a skill",
           "  /skill test <path>            Run skill tests",
           "",
+          "Keys:",
+          "  Esc                           Interrupt the current turn and return to the prompt.",
+          "                                (RStudio's console intercepts Ctrl+C for copy. In the",
+          "                                terminal ~/bin/corteza CLI the split is reversed:",
+          "                                Ctrl+C interrupts, Esc does nothing.)",
+          "",
           sep = "\n"
     )
 }
diff --git a/inst/bin/corteza b/inst/bin/corteza
index 8d9fc22..cc90023 100755
--- a/inst/bin/corteza
+++ b/inst/bin/corteza
@@ -112,6 +112,12 @@ Commands (in chat):
   /model <name>  Switch model
   /provider <p>  Switch provider
 
+Keys:
+  Ctrl+C         Interrupt the current turn and return to the prompt.
+                 (Esc does nothing here — terminals send a raw ^[ byte,
+                 not a signal. In RStudio's corteza::chat() the split is
+                 reversed: Esc interrupts, Ctrl+C is copy.)
+
 Project context is loaded from saber::briefing() and saber::agent_context().
 Additional files can be loaded via the `context_files` config key.