diff --git a/config_file/config_file.c b/config_file/config_file.c
index 2436ffd..0a1821b 100644
--- a/config_file/config_file.c
+++ b/config_file/config_file.c
@@ -355,9 +355,11 @@ struct emulator_config *load_config_file(char *filename) {
         break;
       case CONFITEM_KEYBOARD:
         get_next_string(parse_line, cur_cmd, &str_pos, ' ');
-        cfg->keyboard_file = (char *)calloc(1, strlen(cur_cmd) + 1);
         cfg->keyboard_toggle_key = cur_cmd[0];
-        printf("Enabled keyboard event forwarding, toggle key %c.\n", cfg->keyboard_toggle_key);
+        get_next_string(parse_line, cur_cmd, &str_pos, ' ');
+        cfg->keyboard_grab = (strcmp(cur_cmd, "grab") == 0) ? 1 : 0;
+        printf("Enabled keyboard event forwarding, toggle key %c, %slocking from host.\n",
+               cfg->keyboard_toggle_key, cfg->keyboard_grab ? "" : "not ");
         break;
       case CONFITEM_KBFILE:
         get_next_string(parse_line, cur_cmd, &str_pos, ' ');
diff --git a/config_file/config_file.h b/config_file/config_file.h
index b9fe438..3af4758 100644
--- a/config_file/config_file.h
+++ b/config_file/config_file.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ struct emulator_config {
   char *mouse_file, *keyboard_file;
 
   char mouse_toggle_key, keyboard_toggle_key;
-  unsigned char mouse_enabled, keyboard_enabled;
+  unsigned char mouse_enabled, keyboard_enabled, keyboard_grab;
 
   unsigned int loop_cycles;
   unsigned int mapped_low, mapped_high;
diff --git a/default.cfg b/default.cfg
index 0d66add..bec305a 100644
--- a/default.cfg
+++ b/default.cfg
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ platform amiga
 # Syntax is mouse [device] [toggle key]
 #mouse /dev/input/mouse0 m
 # Forward keyboard events to host system, defaults to off unless toggle key is pressed, toggled off using F12.
-#keyboard k
+# Add the keyword "grab" to steal the keyboard from the Pi, so Amiga input does not appear on the console or in X11.
+# (also helps prevent sending any ctrl-alt-del to the Amiga from resetting the Pi)
+keyboard k grab
 # Select a specific filename for the keyboard event source.
 # This is typically /dev/input/event1 or event0, but it may be event3 with for instance a wireless keyboard.
 # Use ls /dev/input/event* to check which event files are available and try until you find the one that works.
diff --git a/emulator.c b/emulator.c
index 157cb64..ba4dcf1 100644
--- a/emulator.c
+++ b/emulator.c
@@ -263,39 +263,53 @@ cpu_loop:
 }
 
 void *keyboard_task() {
-  struct pollfd kbdfd[1];
-  int kpoll;
+  struct pollfd kbdpoll[1];
+  int kpollrc;
+  char grab_message[] = "[KBD] Grabbing keyboard from input layer\n",
+       ungrab_message[] = "[KBD] Ungrabbing keyboard\n";
 
   printf("[KBD] Keyboard thread started\n");
 
-  kbdfd[0].fd = keyboard_fd;
-  kbdfd[0].events = POLLIN;
+  // because we permit the keyboard to be grabbed on startup, quickly check if we need to grab it
+  if (kb_hook_enabled && cfg->keyboard_grab) {
+    printf(grab_message);
+    grab_device(keyboard_fd);
+  }
+
+  kbdpoll[0].fd = keyboard_fd;
+  kbdpoll[0].events = POLLIN;
 
 key_loop:
-  kpoll = poll(kbdfd, 1, KEY_POLL_INTERVAL_MSEC);
-  if ((kpoll > 0) && (kbdfd[0].revents & POLLHUP)) {
+  kpollrc = poll(kbdpoll, 1, KEY_POLL_INTERVAL_MSEC);
+  if ((kpollrc > 0) && (kbdpoll[0].revents & POLLHUP)) {
     // in the event that a keyboard is unplugged, keyboard_task will whiz up to 100% utilisation
     // this is undesired, so if the keyboard HUPs, end the thread without ending the emulation
     printf("[KBD] Keyboard node returned HUP (unplugged?)\n");
     goto key_end;
   }
 
-  // if kpoll > 0 then it contains number of events to pull, also check if POLLIN is set in revents
-  if ((kpoll <= 0) || !(kbdfd[0].revents & POLLIN)) {
+  // if kpollrc > 0 then it contains number of events to pull, also check if POLLIN is set in revents
+  if ((kpollrc <= 0) || !(kbdpoll[0].revents & POLLIN)) {
     goto key_loop;
   }
 
   while (get_key_char(&c, &c_code, &c_type)) {
     if (c && c == cfg->keyboard_toggle_key && !kb_hook_enabled) {
       kb_hook_enabled = 1;
-      printf("Keyboard hook enabled.\n");
-    }
-    else if (kb_hook_enabled) {
+      printf("[KBD] Keyboard hook enabled.\n");
+      if (cfg->keyboard_grab) {
+        grab_device(keyboard_fd);
+        printf(grab_message);
+      }
+    } else if (kb_hook_enabled) {
       if (c == 0x1B && c_type) {
         kb_hook_enabled = 0;
-        printf("Keyboard hook disabled.\n");
-      }
-      else {
+        printf("[KBD] Keyboard hook disabled.\n");
+        if (cfg->keyboard_grab) {
+          release_device(keyboard_fd);
+          printf(ungrab_message);
+        }
+      } else {
         if (queue_keypress(c_code, c_type, cfg->platform->id) && int2_enabled && last_irq != 2) {
           //last_irq = 0;
           //M68K_SET_IRQ(2);
diff --git a/input/input.c b/input/input.c
index bc59607..c9201f9 100644
--- a/input/input.c
+++ b/input/input.c
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include <linux/input.h>
+#include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #include <pthread.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
@@ -211,3 +212,15 @@ void pop_queued_key(uint8_t *c, uint8_t *t) {
   queued_keypresses--;
   return;
 }
+
+int grab_device(int fd) {
+  int rc = 0;
+  rc = ioctl(fd, EVIOCGRAB, (void *)1);
+  return rc;
+}
+
+int release_device(int fd) {
+  int rc = 0;
+  rc = ioctl(fd, EVIOCGRAB, (void *)0);
+  return rc;
+}
diff --git a/input/input.h b/input/input.h
index a785534..87384e7 100644
--- a/input/input.h
+++ b/input/input.h
@@ -11,3 +11,5 @@ int get_key_char(char *c, char *code, char *event_type);
 int queue_keypress(uint8_t keycode, uint8_t event_type, uint8_t platform);
 int get_num_kb_queued();
 void pop_queued_key(uint8_t *c, uint8_t *t);
+int grab_device(int fd);
+int release_device(int fd);