diff --git a/commands.c b/commands.c
index 42e78da..8ab1247 100644
--- a/commands.c
+++ b/commands.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ void animate(void);
 void slideshow(void);
 void set_timeout(timeout_f, int, bool);
 void reset_timeout(timeout_f);
+void handle_key_handler(bool);
 
 extern appmode_t mode;
 extern img_t img;
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ bool cg_toggle_bar(arg_t _)
 
 bool cg_prefix_external(arg_t _)
 {
-	extprefix = true;
+	handle_key_handler(true);
 	return false;
 }
 
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 220743b..f3eeb0a 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -469,6 +469,22 @@ Bool is_input_ev(Display *dpy, XEvent *ev, XPointer arg)
 	return ev->type == ButtonPress || ev->type == KeyPress;
 }
 
+void handle_key_handler(bool init)
+{
+	extprefix = init;
+	if (win.bar.h == 0)
+		return;
+	if (init) {
+		close_info();
+		snprintf(win.bar.l.buf, win.bar.l.size, "Getting key handler input "
+		         "(%s to abort)...", XKeysymToString(keyhandler_abort));
+	} else { /* abort */
+		open_info();
+		update_info();
+	}
+	win_draw(&win);
+}
+
 void run_key_handler(const char *key, unsigned int mask)
 {
 	pid_t pid;
@@ -588,7 +604,7 @@ void on_keypress(XKeyEvent *kev)
 	if (IsModifierKey(ksym))
 		return;
 	if (extprefix && ksym == keyhandler_abort && MODMASK(kev->state) == 0) {
-		extprefix = False;
+		handle_key_handler(false);
 	} else if (extprefix) {
 		run_key_handler(XKeysymToString(ksym), kev->state & ~sh);
 		extprefix = False;