diff --git a/piker/ui/_event.py b/piker/ui/_event.py
index 769d96cf..bf6bf766 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_event.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_event.py
@@ -25,6 +25,35 @@ from PyQt5 import QtCore
 from PyQt5.QtCore import QEvent
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QWidget
 import trio
+from pydantic import BaseModel
+
+
+# TODO: maybe consider some constrained ints down the road?
+# https://pydantic-docs.helpmanual.io/usage/types/#constrained-types
+
+class KeyboardMsg(BaseModel):
+    '''Unpacked Qt keyboard event data.
+
+    '''
+    event: QEvent
+    etype: int
+    key: int
+    mods: int
+    txt: str
+
+    class Config:
+        arbitrary_types_allowed = True
+
+    def to_tuple(self) -> tuple:
+        return tuple(self.dict().values())
+
+
+# TODO: maybe add some methods to detect key combos? Or is that gonna be
+# better with pattern matching?
+# # ctl + alt as combo
+# ctlalt = False
+# if (QtCore.Qt.AltModifier | QtCore.Qt.ControlModifier) == mods:
+#     ctlalt = True
 
 
 class EventRelay(QtCore.QObject):
@@ -67,22 +96,26 @@ class EventRelay(QtCore.QObject):
 
             if etype in {QEvent.KeyPress, QEvent.KeyRelease}:
 
+                msg = KeyboardMsg(
+                    event=ev,
+                    etype=ev.type(),
+                    key=ev.key(),
+                    mods=ev.modifiers(),
+                    txt=ev.text(),
+                )
+
                 # TODO: is there a global setting for this?
                 if ev.isAutoRepeat() and self._filter_auto_repeats:
                     ev.ignore()
                     return True
 
-                key = ev.key()
-                mods = ev.modifiers()
-                txt = ev.text()
-
                 # NOTE: the event object instance coming out
                 # the other side is mutated since Qt resumes event
                 # processing **before** running a ``trio`` guest mode
                 # tick, thus special handling or copying must be done.
 
-                # send elements to async handler
-                self._send_chan.send_nowait((ev, etype, key, mods, txt))
+                # send keyboard msg to async handler
+                self._send_chan.send_nowait(msg)
 
             else:
                 # send event to async handler
diff --git a/piker/ui/_interaction.py b/piker/ui/_interaction.py
index 7e80f197..aa03cdbf 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_interaction.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_interaction.py
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ async def handle_viewmode_inputs(
         'cc': mode.cancel_all_orders,
     }
 
-    async for event, etype, key, mods, text in recv_chan:
+    async for kbmsg in recv_chan:
+        event, etype, key, mods, text = kbmsg.to_tuple()
         log.debug(f'key: {key}, mods: {mods}, text: {text}')
         now = time.time()
         period = now - last
diff --git a/piker/ui/_search.py b/piker/ui/_search.py
index c3c8520f..7e52074e 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_search.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_search.py
@@ -815,7 +815,8 @@ async def handle_keyboard_input(
             )
         )
 
-        async for event, etype, key, mods, txt in recv_chan:
+        async for kbmsg in recv_chan:
+            event, etype, key, mods, txt = kbmsg.to_tuple()
 
             log.debug(f'key: {key}, mods: {mods}, txt: {txt}')
 
@@ -823,11 +824,6 @@ async def handle_keyboard_input(
             if mods == Qt.ControlModifier:
                 ctl = True
 
-            # # ctl + alt as combo
-            # ctlalt = False
-            # if (QtCore.Qt.AltModifier | QtCore.Qt.ControlModifier) == mods:
-            #     ctlalt = True
-
             if key in (Qt.Key_Enter, Qt.Key_Return):
 
                 search.chart_current_item(clear_to_cache=True)