diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index e1f186a..5e88e48 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -123,13 +123,18 @@ Shortcut shortcuts[] = {
 InputbarShortcut inputbar_shortcuts[] = {
   /* mask,             key,               function,                  argument */
   {0,                  GDK_Escape,        isc_abort,                 {0} },
+  {GDK_CONTROL_MASK,   GDK_c,             isc_abort,                 {0} },
   {0,                  GDK_Up,            isc_command_history,       {0} },
   {0,                  GDK_Down,          isc_command_history,       {0} },
   {0,                  GDK_Tab,           isc_completion,            { NEXT } },
   {GDK_CONTROL_MASK,   GDK_Tab,           isc_completion,            { NEXT_GROUP } },
   {0,                  GDK_ISO_Left_Tab,  isc_completion,            { PREVIOUS } },
   {GDK_CONTROL_MASK,   GDK_ISO_Left_Tab,  isc_completion,            { PREVIOUS_GROUP } },
+  {0,                  GDK_BackSpace,     isc_string_manipulation,   { DELETE_LAST_CHAR } },
+  {GDK_CONTROL_MASK,   GDK_h,             isc_string_manipulation,   { DELETE_LAST_CHAR } },
   {GDK_CONTROL_MASK,   GDK_w,             isc_string_manipulation,   { DELETE_LAST_WORD } },
+  {GDK_CONTROL_MASK,   GDK_f,             isc_string_manipulation,   { NEXT_CHAR } },
+  {GDK_CONTROL_MASK,   GDK_b,             isc_string_manipulation,   { PREVIOUS_CHAR } },
 };
 
 /* mouse settings */
diff --git a/zathura.c b/zathura.c
index 1c7de4c..60dd4a7 100644
--- a/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura.c
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@
 
 /* enums */
 enum { NEXT, PREVIOUS, LEFT, RIGHT, UP, DOWN, BOTTOM, TOP, HIDE, HIGHLIGHT,
-  DELETE_LAST_WORD, DEFAULT, ERROR, WARNING, NEXT_GROUP, PREVIOUS_GROUP,
-  ZOOM_IN, ZOOM_OUT, ZOOM_ORIGINAL, ZOOM_SPECIFIC, FORWARD, BACKWARD,
-  ADJUST_BESTFIT, ADJUST_WIDTH, ADJUST_NONE, CONTINUOUS, DELETE_LAST,
+  DELETE_LAST_WORD, DELETE_LAST_CHAR, DEFAULT, ERROR, WARNING, NEXT_GROUP,
+  PREVIOUS_GROUP, ZOOM_IN, ZOOM_OUT, ZOOM_ORIGINAL, ZOOM_SPECIFIC, FORWARD,
+  BACKWARD, ADJUST_BESTFIT, ADJUST_WIDTH, ADJUST_NONE, CONTINUOUS, DELETE_LAST,
   ADD_MARKER, EVAL_MARKER, EXPAND, COLLAPSE, SELECT, GOTO_DEFAULT, GOTO_LABELS,
-  GOTO_OFFSET, HALF_UP, HALF_DOWN, FULL_UP, FULL_DOWN };
+  GOTO_OFFSET, HALF_UP, HALF_DOWN, FULL_UP, FULL_DOWN, NEXT_CHAR, PREVIOUS_CHAR };
 
 /* define modes */
 #define ALL        (1 << 0)
@@ -2483,28 +2483,38 @@ isc_completion(Argument* argument)
 void
 isc_string_manipulation(Argument* argument)
 {
+ gchar *input  = gtk_editable_get_chars(GTK_EDITABLE(Zathura.UI.inputbar), 0, -1);
+ int    length = strlen(input);
+ int pos       = gtk_editable_get_position(GTK_EDITABLE(Zathura.UI.inputbar));
+
   if(argument->n == DELETE_LAST_WORD)
   {
-    gchar *input  = gtk_editable_get_chars(GTK_EDITABLE(Zathura.UI.inputbar), 0, -1);
-    int    length = strlen(input);
-    int    i      = 0;
+    int i = pos - 1;
 
-    for(i = length; i > 0; i--)
-    {
-      if( (input[i] == ' ') ||
-          (input[i] == '/') )
-      {
-        if(i == (length - 1))
-          continue;
+    if(!pos)
+      return;
 
-        i = (input[i] == ' ') ? (i - 1) : i;
-        break;
-      }
-    }
+    /* remove trailing spaces */
+    for(; i >= 0 && input[i] == ' '; i--);
 
-    notify(DEFAULT, g_strndup(input, i + 1));
-    gtk_editable_set_position(GTK_EDITABLE(Zathura.UI.inputbar), -1);
+    /* find the beginning of the word */
+    while((i > 0) && (input[i] != ' ') && (input[i] != '/'))
+      i--;
+
+    gtk_editable_delete_text(GTK_EDITABLE(Zathura.UI.inputbar),  i, pos);
+    gtk_editable_set_position(GTK_EDITABLE(Zathura.UI.inputbar), i);
   }
+  else if(argument->n == DELETE_LAST_CHAR)
+  {
+    if((length - 1) <= 0)
+      isc_abort(NULL);
+
+    gtk_editable_delete_text(GTK_EDITABLE(Zathura.UI.inputbar), pos - 1, pos);
+  }
+  else if(argument->n == NEXT_CHAR)
+    gtk_editable_set_position(GTK_EDITABLE(Zathura.UI.inputbar), pos+1);
+  else if(argument->n == PREVIOUS_CHAR)
+    gtk_editable_set_position(GTK_EDITABLE(Zathura.UI.inputbar), (pos == 0) ? 0 : pos - 1);
 }
 
 /* command implementation */