diff --git a/src/nano.c b/src/nano.c
index f1679a1a..fa39cd0e 100644
--- a/src/nano.c
+++ b/src/nano.c
@@ -1310,6 +1310,7 @@ void unbound_key(int code)
 	else
 		statusline(ALERT, _("Unbound key: %c"), code);
 #endif
+	set_blankdelay_to_one();
 }
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_MOUSE
diff --git a/src/prototypes.h b/src/prototypes.h
index 617d5c60..c283e48b 100644
--- a/src/prototypes.h
+++ b/src/prototypes.h
@@ -592,6 +592,7 @@ void blank_statusbar(void);
 void wipe_statusbar(void);
 void blank_bottombars(void);
 void check_statusblank(void);
+void set_blankdelay_to_one(void);
 char *display_string(const char *buf, size_t column, size_t span,
 						bool isdata, bool isprompt);
 void titlebar(const char *path);
diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index 2bb1a56b..3ec15201 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -1694,6 +1694,12 @@ void check_statusblank(void)
 		edit_refresh();
 }
 
+/* Ensure that the status bar will be wiped upon the next keystroke. */
+void set_blankdelay_to_one(void)
+{
+	statusblank = 1;
+}
+
 /* Convert buf into a string that can be displayed on screen.  The caller
  * wants to display buf starting with the given column, and extending for
  * at most span columns.  column is zero-based, and span is one-based, so