--- a/scripts/plot/util/ginput.m
+++ b/scripts/plot/util/ginput.m
@@ -130,15 +130,18 @@
 
 function ginput_keypressfcn (src, evt)
   point = get (gca (), "currentpoint");
-  key = evt.Key;
-  if (key == "return")
+  if (strcmp (evt.Key, "return"))
     ## Enter key stops ginput.
     ginput_accumulator (2, NaN, NaN, NaN);
   else
-    ginput_accumulator (1, point(1,1), point(1,2), uint8 (key(1)));
+    character = evt.Character;
+    if (! isempty (character))
+      ginput_accumulator (1, point(1,1), point(1,2), uint8 (character(1)));
+    endif
   endif
 endfunction
 
+
 ## Remove from test statistics.  No real tests possible.
 %!test
 %! assert (1);