diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 58c1d566..8dbf10b0 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1781,9 +1781,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "ctutils"
-version = "0.4.3"
+version = "0.4.5"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "03bb0e1cc970d482d121d9a1744999169b69a07470b3d644a7894e53fcaf4574"
+checksum = "38d28fb6aa7dd680b3ffd1a3e64e115c177bdba63c0ae7f9cd48129ff05c4fa0"
 dependencies = [
  "cmov",
 ]
diff --git a/crates/tests/fixtures/nvim/focus.lua b/crates/tests/fixtures/nvim/focus.lua
index bf1fb435..cd324aa9 100644
--- a/crates/tests/fixtures/nvim/focus.lua
+++ b/crates/tests/fixtures/nvim/focus.lua
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ package.loaded['argon.client'] = {
 local focus = require('argon.focus')
 
 local stage = 1
-local exit_keys = { '<CR>', '<CR>', '<Esc>', '<C-C>', '<Esc>' }
+local exit_keys = { '<CR>', '<CR>', '<Esc>', '<C-C>', '<Esc>', '<CR>' }
+local pending_command = 'let g:argon_focus_pending = 1'
+local pending_replaced = false
 
 local function checked(callback)
   local ok, err = pcall(callback)
@@ -26,6 +28,10 @@ end
 
 vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('CmdlineEnter', {
   callback = function()
+    -- The pending command line stays open until the GUI replaces it.
+    if stage == 6 and not pending_replaced then
+      return
+    end
     local exit_key = assert(exit_keys[stage])
     vim.schedule(function()
       vim.api.nvim_input(exit_key)
@@ -33,6 +39,17 @@ vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('CmdlineEnter', {
   end,
 })
 
+vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('CmdlineChanged', {
+  callback = function()
+    if stage == 6 and not pending_replaced and vim.fn.getcmdline() == pending_command then
+      pending_replaced = true
+      vim.schedule(function()
+        focus.editor('let g:argon_focus_replaced = 1')
+      end)
+    end
+  end,
+})
+
 vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('CmdlineLeave', {
   callback = function()
     vim.defer_fn(function()
@@ -57,9 +74,14 @@ vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('CmdlineLeave', {
           assert(gui_focus_count == 3, 'interrupting a GUI command should focus the GUI')
           stage = 5
           vim.api.nvim_input(':let g:argon_ordinary_command = 1')
-        else
+        elseif stage == 5 then
           assert(vim.g.argon_ordinary_command == nil)
           assert(gui_focus_count == 3, 'cancelling an ordinary command should remain in Neovim')
+          stage = 6
+          vim.api.nvim_input(':' .. pending_command)
+        elseif vim.g.argon_focus_replaced == 1 then
+          assert(vim.g.argon_focus_pending == nil, 'a GUI command should abandon a pending command line')
+          assert(gui_focus_count == 4, 'executing a GUI command should focus the GUI')
           vim.cmd('quitall!')
         end
       end)
diff --git a/crates/tests/src/nvim.rs b/crates/tests/src/nvim.rs
index 9beb2179..92425e14 100644
--- a/crates/tests/src/nvim.rs
+++ b/crates/tests/src/nvim.rs
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ mod tests {
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn gui_commands_respect_return_focus_configuration() {
         let mut command = crate::nvim_command();
+        // Sourced rather than run with `-l`, which exits before typeahead is processed.
         command
-            .arg("-l")
+            .arg("-S")
             .arg(crate::repository_root().join("crates/tests/fixtures/nvim/focus.lua"));
         let child = command.spawn().expect("start headless Neovim");
         crate::finish_nvim(child).await;
diff --git a/lua/argon/focus.lua b/lua/argon/focus.lua
index 3d56fdff..69a75698 100644
--- a/lua/argon/focus.lua
+++ b/lua/argon/focus.lua
@@ -56,14 +56,15 @@ end
 ---@param opts? { return_to_gui?: boolean }
 function M.editor(command, opts)
   opts = opts or {}
-  local mode = vim.api.nvim_get_mode().mode
-  local keys = mode:sub(1, 1) == 't' and '<C-\\><C-N>:' or '<Esc>:'
+  -- <C-\><C-N> reaches Normal mode from any mode. A fed <Esc> would instead
+  -- execute a pending command line, and an error there drops the keys after it.
+  local keys = '<C-\\><C-N>:'
   if type(command) == 'string' then
     keys = keys .. command
   end
 
   -- Wait for this command line to be entered before watching it leave. The
-  -- leading <Esc> may itself leave a pre-existing command line or prompt.
+  -- leading <C-\><C-N> may itself leave a pre-existing command line.
   vim.api.nvim_clear_autocmds({ group = gui_command_group })
   if opts.return_to_gui ~= false then
     return_to_gui_after_command()