diff --git a/lib/tty/key.c b/lib/tty/key.c
index b1064a3..cad63bd 100644
--- a/lib/tty/key.c
+++ b/lib/tty/key.c
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ int alternate_plus_minus = 0;
 
 int mou_auto_repeat = 100;
 int double_click_speed = 250;
-int old_esc_mode = 0;
+int old_esc_mode = 1;
 int use_8th_bit_as_meta = 0;
 
 /* This table is a mapping between names and the constants we use
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ static key_define_t qansi_key_defines[] = {
 };
 
 /* timeout for old_esc_mode in usec */
-static int keyboard_key_timeout = 1000000;      /* settable via env */
+static int keyboard_key_timeout = 25000;      /* settable via env */
 
 /* This holds all the key definitions */
 static key_def *keys = NULL;