Index: code/sdl/sdl_input.c
===================================================================
--- code/sdl/sdl_input.c	(revision 1456)
+++ code/sdl/sdl_input.c	(working copy)
@@ -218,26 +218,38 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	if( down && !( keysym->unicode & 0xFF80 ) )
+	if( down )
 	{
-		char ch = (char)keysym->unicode & 0x7F;
-
-		switch( ch )
+		if( !( keysym->unicode & 0xFF80 ) )
 		{
-			// So the key marked ~ always drops the console
-			case '~': *key = '~'; break;
+			char ch = (char)keysym->unicode & 0x7F;
 
-			case 127: // ASCII delete
-				if( *key != K_DEL )
-				{
-					// ctrl-h
-					*buf = CTRL('h');
-					break;
-				}
-				// fallthrough
+			switch( ch )
+			{
+				// So the key marked ~ always drops the console
+				case '~': *key = '~'; break;
 
-			default: *buf = ch; break;
+				case 127: // ASCII delete
+					if( *key != K_DEL )
+					{
+						// ctrl-h
+						*buf = CTRL('h');
+						break;
+					}
+					// fallthrough
+
+				default: *buf = ch; break;
+			}
 		}
+		else
+		{
+			// Unicode character which isn't ASCII, possibly the character
+			// following a dead key. Fallback on what SDL calls the key
+
+			const char *keyString = SDL_GetKeyName( keysym->sym );
+			if( strlen( keyString ) == 1 )
+				*buf = *keyString;
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Never allow a '~' SE_CHAR event to be generated