diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index a34e8d7a0..2716742a4 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ DFHack Future
         plugins will not be loaded if globals they specify as required are not located (should prevent some crashes)
     Fixes
         Fixed numerous (mostly Lua-related) crashes on OS X by including a more up-to-date libstdc++
+        Alt should no longer get stuck on Windows (and perhaps other platforms as well)
         advfort works again
         devel/export-dt-ini: Updated for 0.40.20+
         digfort: now checks file type and existence
diff --git a/library/Core.cpp b/library/Core.cpp
index 29aba234e..19e2c4345 100644
--- a/library/Core.cpp
+++ b/library/Core.cpp
@@ -1579,6 +1579,8 @@ int UnicodeAwareSym(const SDL::KeyboardEvent& ke)
 //MEMO: return false if event is consumed
 int Core::DFH_SDL_Event(SDL::Event* ev)
 {
+    static bool alt = 0;
+
     // do NOT process events before we are ready.
     if(!started) return true;
     if(!ev)
@@ -1587,6 +1589,11 @@ int Core::DFH_SDL_Event(SDL::Event* ev)
     {
         auto ke = (SDL::KeyboardEvent *)ev;
 
+        if (ke->ksym.sym == SDL::K_LALT || ke->ksym.sym == SDL::K_RALT)
+        {
+            alt = (ev->type == SDL::ET_KEYDOWN);
+        }
+        else
         if(ke->state == SDL::BTN_PRESSED && !hotkey_states[ke->ksym.sym])
         {
             hotkey_states[ke->ksym.sym] = true;
@@ -1594,7 +1601,7 @@ int Core::DFH_SDL_Event(SDL::Event* ev)
             int mod = 0;
             if (ke->ksym.mod & SDL::KMOD_SHIFT) mod |= 1;
             if (ke->ksym.mod & SDL::KMOD_CTRL) mod |= 2;
-            if (ke->ksym.mod & SDL::KMOD_ALT) mod |= 4;
+            if (alt) mod |= 4;
 
             // Use unicode so Windows gives the correct value for the
             // user's Input Language