diff --git a/hermes_cli/curses_ui.py b/hermes_cli/curses_ui.py
index b05295f1e61d7..ec8e8ed5c357f 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/curses_ui.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/curses_ui.py
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ def curses_checklist(
 
         def _draw(stdscr):
             curses.curs_set(0)
+            stdscr.keypad(True)
             if curses.has_colors():
                 curses.start_color()
                 curses.use_default_colors()
@@ -195,6 +196,7 @@ def curses_radiolist(
 
         def _draw(stdscr):
             curses.curs_set(0)
+            stdscr.keypad(True)
             if curses.has_colors():
                 curses.start_color()
                 curses.use_default_colors()
@@ -332,6 +334,7 @@ def curses_single_select(
 
         def _draw(stdscr):
             curses.curs_set(0)
+            stdscr.keypad(True)
             if curses.has_colors():
                 curses.start_color()
                 curses.use_default_colors()
diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index b5b95df893f72..eaff63395af4b 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -402,6 +402,7 @@ def _match(s, query):
 
         def _curses_browse(stdscr):
             curses.curs_set(0)
+            stdscr.keypad(True)
             if curses.has_colors():
                 curses.start_color()
                 curses.use_default_colors()
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_browse.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_browse.py
index a9d7153c83ac9..c1ee61d5ca66e 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_browse.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_browse.py
@@ -270,6 +270,26 @@ def run_inner(func):
                 with patch("curses.has_colors", return_value=False):
                     return _session_browse_picker(sessions)
 
+    def test_curses_enables_keypad_mode(self):
+        import curses
+        sessions = _make_sessions(3)
+
+        mock_stdscr = MagicMock()
+        mock_stdscr.getmaxyx.return_value = (30, 120)
+        mock_stdscr.getch.side_effect = [10]
+
+        with patch("curses.wrapper") as mock_wrapper:
+            def run_inner(func):
+                func(mock_stdscr)
+
+            mock_wrapper.side_effect = run_inner
+            with patch("curses.curs_set"):
+                with patch("curses.has_colors", return_value=False):
+                    result = _session_browse_picker(sessions)
+
+        assert result == sessions[0]["id"]
+        mock_stdscr.keypad.assert_called_once_with(True)
+
     def test_enter_selects_first_session(self):
         sessions = _make_sessions(3)
         result = self._run_with_keys(sessions, [10])  # Enter key