diff --git a/byobu-config b/byobu-config
index cb72e4d9..738ba46a 100755
--- a/byobu-config
+++ b/byobu-config
@@ -444,11 +444,16 @@ def getesckey():
     line = commands.getoutput("grep ^escape "+path)
     if line == "":
         return DEF_ESC
-    return line[line.find('^')+1]
+    esc = line[line.find('^')+1]
+    if esc == "`":
+        esc = " "
+    return esc
 
 def setesckey(key):
     path = HOME+'/.'+PKG+'/keybindings'
     if key != "":
+        if key == " ":
+            key = "`"
         u = key[0].upper()
         l = key[0].lower()
         if os.path.exists(path):
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index c63b37c5..6bf8c3b4 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ byobu (2.40) unreleased; urgency=low
     default values, making it easier for users to customize themselves
   * bin/custom, byobu-config, byobu.1, profiles/common, rpm/byobu.spec,
     statusrc: add support for a custom status script indicator
-  * byobu-config, byobu-select-profile: make color selection more readable
+  * byobu-config, byobu-select-profile: make color selection more readable;
+    support ctrl-<space> escape sequence
 
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:18:20 -0600