diff --git a/core/src/utils.cpp b/core/src/utils.cpp
index dd330fc8..8eb5fc9e 100644
--- a/core/src/utils.cpp
+++ b/core/src/utils.cpp
@@ -335,6 +335,9 @@ void keyboardDown(unsigned char key, int x, int y) {
 
     io.AddKeyEvent(keyToImGuiKey(key), true);
 
+    //forward to ImGui GLUT backend
+    ImGui_ImplGLUT_KeyboardFunc(key, x, y);
+
     //std::cout << "Down key: " << key << ", mod: " << mods << std::endl;
 }
 
@@ -353,6 +356,8 @@ void keyboardUp(unsigned char key, int x, int y) {
 
     io.AddKeyEvent(keyToImGuiKey(key), false);
 
+    ImGui_ImplGLUT_KeyboardUpFunc(key, x, y);
+
     //std::cout << "Up key: " << key << ", mod: " << mods << std::endl;
 }