diff --git a/lib/internal/readline.js b/lib/internal/readline.js
index 6fdfae04ea2e68..3a0925a28d83ff 100644
--- a/lib/internal/readline.js
+++ b/lib/internal/readline.js
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ function* emitKeys(stream) {
       // backspace or ctrl+h
       key.name = 'backspace';
       key.meta = escaped;
-    } else if (ch === '\x1b' || (s === '\x1b')) {
+    } else if (s === '\x1b') {
       // escape key
       key.name = 'escape';
       key.meta = escaped;
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ function* emitKeys(stream) {
 
     key.sequence = s;
 
-    if (key.name !== undefined) {
+    if (s.length !== 0 && (key.name !== undefined || escaped)) {
       /* Named character or sequence */
       stream.emit('keypress', escaped ? undefined : s, key);
     } else if (s.length === 1) {