diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 4b1e54b1..bc83dd80 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@humanlayer/react-hotkeys-hook",
   "description": "React hook for handling keyboard shortcuts (HumanLayer fork)",
-  "version": "5.2.5",
+  "version": "5.2.6",
   "sideEffects": false,
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
diff --git a/packages/react-hotkeys-hook/package.json b/packages/react-hotkeys-hook/package.json
index 64f44efb..cdad55c5 100644
--- a/packages/react-hotkeys-hook/package.json
+++ b/packages/react-hotkeys-hook/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "react-hotkeys-hook",
-  "version": "5.2.5",
+  "version": "5.2.6",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",
diff --git a/packages/react-hotkeys-hook/src/lib/validators.ts b/packages/react-hotkeys-hook/src/lib/validators.ts
index 9044f133..02f5c65c 100644
--- a/packages/react-hotkeys-hook/src/lib/validators.ts
+++ b/packages/react-hotkeys-hook/src/lib/validators.ts
@@ -125,8 +125,15 @@ export const isHotkeyMatchingKeyboardEvent = (e: KeyboardEvent, hotkey: Hotkey,
 
   // All modifiers are correct, now check the key
   // If useKey is set, match against the produced key value instead of the key code
-  if (useKey && keys?.length === 1 && keys.includes(producedKey.toLowerCase())) {
-    return true
+  // When useKey is true, we ONLY match produced keys — never fall through to code-based matching
+  if (useKey) {
+    if (keys?.length === 1) {
+      return keys.includes(producedKey.toLowerCase())
+    }
+    if (keys && keys.length > 0) {
+      return isHotkeyPressed(keys.map((k) => k.toLowerCase()))
+    }
+    return !keys || keys.length === 0
   }
 
   // If the key is set, we check for the key