diff --git a/helix-term/src/editor.rs b/helix-term/src/editor.rs
index a3d6a04ed..2cc210f49 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/editor.rs
@@ -320,29 +320,20 @@ impl Editor {
                     if let Some(view) = &mut self.view {
                         match view.state.mode() {
                             Mode::Insert => {
-                                match event {
-                                    KeyEvent {
-                                        code: KeyCode::Esc, ..
-                                    } => commands::normal_mode(view, 1),
-                                    KeyEvent {
-                                        code: KeyCode::Backspace,
-                                        ..
-                                    } => commands::delete_char_backward(view, 1),
-                                    KeyEvent {
-                                        code: KeyCode::Delete,
-                                        ..
-                                    } => commands::delete_char_forward(view, 1),
-                                    KeyEvent {
+                                // TODO: handle modes and sequences (`gg`)
+                                let keys = vec![event];
+                                if let Some(command) = keymap[&Mode::Insert].get(&keys) {
+                                    // TODO: handle count other than 1
+                                    command(view, 1);
+                                } else {
+                                    if let KeyEvent {
                                         code: KeyCode::Char(c),
                                         ..
-                                    } => commands::insert_char(view, c),
-                                    KeyEvent {
-                                        code: KeyCode::Enter,
-                                        ..
-                                    } => commands::insert_char(view, '\n'),
-                                    _ => (), // skip
+                                    } = event
+                                    {
+                                        commands::insert_char(view, c);
+                                    }
                                 }
-                                // TODO: simplistic ensure cursor in view for now
                                 view.ensure_cursor_in_view();
 
                                 self.render();
diff --git a/helix-view/Cargo.toml b/helix-view/Cargo.toml
index 0d8874748..d205d7add 100644
--- a/helix-view/Cargo.toml
+++ b/helix-view/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ edition = "2018"
 
 [features]
 term = ["tui", "crossterm"]
+default = ["term"]
 
 [dependencies]
 anyhow = "1"
diff --git a/helix-view/src/commands.rs b/helix-view/src/commands.rs
index bdfa57ec3..a3906b9b8 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/commands.rs
@@ -280,6 +280,10 @@ pub fn insert_char(view: &mut View, c: char) {
     // TODO: need to store into history if successful
 }
 
+pub fn insert_newline(view: &mut View, _count: usize) {
+    insert_char(view, '\n');
+}
+
 // TODO: handle indent-aware delete
 pub fn delete_char_backward(view: &mut View, count: usize) {
     let text = &view.state.doc.slice(..);
diff --git a/helix-view/src/keymap.rs b/helix-view/src/keymap.rs
index 078f2bf19..512dcbdb9 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/keymap.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/keymap.rs
@@ -182,6 +182,24 @@ pub fn default() -> Keymaps {
                     code: KeyCode::Esc,
                     modifiers: Modifiers::NONE
                 }] => commands::normal_mode as Command,
+            ),
+            state::Mode::Insert => hashmap!(
+                vec![Key {
+                    code: KeyCode::Esc,
+                    modifiers: Modifiers::NONE
+                }] => commands::normal_mode as Command,
+                vec![Key {
+                    code: KeyCode::Backspace,
+                    modifiers: Modifiers::NONE
+                }] => commands::delete_char_backward as Command,
+                vec![Key {
+                    code: KeyCode::Delete,
+                    modifiers: Modifiers::NONE
+                }] => commands::delete_char_forward as Command,
+                vec![Key {
+                    code: KeyCode::Enter,
+                    modifiers: Modifiers::NONE
+                }] => commands::insert_newline as Command,
             )
     )
 }