diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 6e037a471..4b1698e45 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -521,8 +521,28 @@ impl MappableCommand {
         surround_add, "Surround add",
         surround_replace, "Surround replace",
         surround_delete, "Surround delete",
-        select_textobject_around, "Select around object",
-        select_textobject_inner, "Select inside object",
+        select_textobject_inside_type, "Select inside type definition (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_around_type, "Select around type definition (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_inside_function, "Select inside function (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_around_function, "Select around function (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_inside_parameter, "Select inside argument/parameter (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_around_parameter, "Select around argument/parameter (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_inside_comment, "Select inside comment (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_around_comment, "Select around comment (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_inside_test, "Select inside test (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_around_test, "Select around test (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_inside_entry, "Select inside data structure entry (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_around_entry, "Select around data structure entry (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_inside_paragraph, "Select inside paragraph",
+        select_textobject_around_paragraph, "Select around paragraph",
+        select_textobject_inside_closest_surrounding_pair, "Select inside closest surrounding pair (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_around_closest_surrounding_pair, "Select around closest surrounding pair (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_inside_word, "Select inside word",
+        select_textobject_around_word, "Select around word",
+        select_textobject_inside_WORD, "Select inside WORD",
+        select_textobject_around_WORD, "Select around WORD",
+        select_textobject_inside_change, "Select inside VCS change",
+        select_textobject_around_change, "Select around VCS change",
         goto_next_function, "Goto next function",
         goto_prev_function, "Goto previous function",
         goto_next_class, "Goto next type definition",
@@ -669,6 +689,47 @@ impl PartialEq for MappableCommand {
     }
 }
 
+// TODO: this is mostly a copy of MappableCommand. Fold this into MappableCommand?
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct FallbackCommand {
+    name: &'static str,
+    fun: fn(cx: &mut Context, ch: char),
+    doc: &'static str,
+}
+
+macro_rules! static_fallback_commands {
+    ( $($name:ident, $doc:literal,)* ) => {
+        $(
+            #[allow(non_upper_case_globals)]
+            pub const $name: Self = Self {
+                name: stringify!($name),
+                fun: $name,
+                doc: $doc
+            };
+        )*
+
+        pub const FALLBACK_COMMAND_LIST: &'static [Self] = &[
+            $( Self::$name, )*
+        ];
+    }
+}
+
+impl FallbackCommand {
+    pub fn execute(&self, cx: &mut Context, ch: char) {
+        (self.fun)(cx, ch)
+    }
+
+    pub fn doc(&self) -> &str {
+        self.doc
+    }
+
+    #[rustfmt::skip]
+    static_fallback_commands!(
+        select_textobject_inside_surrounding_pair, "Select inside any character acting as a pair (tree-sitter)",
+        select_textobject_around_surrounding_pair, "Select around any character acting as a pair (tree-sitter)",
+    );
+}
+
 fn no_op(_cx: &mut Context) {}
 
 type MoveFn =
@@ -5440,119 +5501,225 @@ fn goto_prev_entry(cx: &mut Context) {
     goto_ts_object_impl(cx, "entry", Direction::Backward)
 }
 
-fn select_textobject_around(cx: &mut Context) {
-    select_textobject(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around);
+fn select_textobject_inside_type(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside, "class");
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_around_type(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around, "class");
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_inside_function(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside, "function");
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_around_function(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around, "function");
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_inside_parameter(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside, "parameter");
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_around_parameter(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around, "parameter");
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_inside_comment(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside, "comment");
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_around_comment(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around, "comment");
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_inside_test(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside, "test");
 }
 
-fn select_textobject_inner(cx: &mut Context) {
-    select_textobject(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside);
+fn select_textobject_around_test(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around, "test");
 }
 
-fn select_textobject(cx: &mut Context, objtype: textobject::TextObject) {
+fn select_textobject_inside_entry(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside, "entry");
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_around_entry(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_treesitter(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around, "entry");
+}
+
+fn textobject_treesitter(
+    cx: &mut Context,
+    obj_type: textobject::TextObject,
+    object_name: &'static str,
+) {
     let count = cx.count();
+    let motion = move |editor: &mut Editor| {
+        let (view, doc) = current!(editor);
+        let (lang_config, syntax) = match doc.language_config().zip(doc.syntax()) {
+            Some(t) => t,
+            None => {
+                editor.set_status("Syntax information is not available in current buffer");
+                return;
+            }
+        };
+        let text = doc.text().slice(..);
+        let selection = doc.selection(view.id).clone().transform(|range| {
+            textobject::textobject_treesitter(
+                text,
+                range,
+                obj_type,
+                object_name,
+                syntax.tree().root_node(),
+                lang_config,
+                count,
+            )
+        });
+        doc.set_selection(view.id, selection);
+    };
+    cx.editor.apply_motion(motion);
+}
 
-    cx.on_next_key(move |cx, event| {
-        cx.editor.autoinfo = None;
-        if let Some(ch) = event.char() {
-            let textobject = move |editor: &mut Editor| {
-                let (view, doc) = current!(editor);
-                let text = doc.text().slice(..);
-
-                let textobject_treesitter = |obj_name: &str, range: Range| -> Range {
-                    let (lang_config, syntax) = match doc.language_config().zip(doc.syntax()) {
-                        Some(t) => t,
-                        None => return range,
-                    };
-                    textobject::textobject_treesitter(
-                        text,
-                        range,
-                        objtype,
-                        obj_name,
-                        syntax.tree().root_node(),
-                        lang_config,
-                        count,
-                    )
-                };
+fn select_textobject_inside_paragraph(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_paragraph(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside);
+}
 
-                if ch == 'g' && doc.diff_handle().is_none() {
-                    editor.set_status("Diff is not available in current buffer");
-                    return;
-                }
+fn select_textobject_around_paragraph(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_paragraph(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around);
+}
 
-                let textobject_change = |range: Range| -> Range {
-                    let diff_handle = doc.diff_handle().unwrap();
-                    let diff = diff_handle.load();
-                    let line = range.cursor_line(text);
-                    let hunk_idx = if let Some(hunk_idx) = diff.hunk_at(line as u32, false) {
-                        hunk_idx
-                    } else {
-                        return range;
-                    };
-                    let hunk = diff.nth_hunk(hunk_idx).after;
+fn textobject_paragraph(cx: &mut Context, textobject: textobject::TextObject) {
+    let count = cx.count();
+    let motion = move |editor: &mut Editor| {
+        let (view, doc) = current!(editor);
+        let text = doc.text().slice(..);
+        let selection = doc
+            .selection(view.id)
+            .clone()
+            .transform(|range| textobject::textobject_paragraph(text, range, textobject, count));
+        doc.set_selection(view.id, selection);
+    };
+    cx.editor.apply_motion(motion);
+}
 
-                    let start = text.line_to_char(hunk.start as usize);
-                    let end = text.line_to_char(hunk.end as usize);
-                    Range::new(start, end).with_direction(range.direction())
-                };
+fn select_textobject_inside_closest_surrounding_pair(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_closest_surrounding_pair(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside);
+}
 
-                let selection = doc.selection(view.id).clone().transform(|range| {
-                    match ch {
-                        'w' => textobject::textobject_word(text, range, objtype, count, false),
-                        'W' => textobject::textobject_word(text, range, objtype, count, true),
-                        't' => textobject_treesitter("class", range),
-                        'f' => textobject_treesitter("function", range),
-                        'a' => textobject_treesitter("parameter", range),
-                        'c' => textobject_treesitter("comment", range),
-                        'T' => textobject_treesitter("test", range),
-                        'e' => textobject_treesitter("entry", range),
-                        'p' => textobject::textobject_paragraph(text, range, objtype, count),
-                        'm' => textobject::textobject_pair_surround_closest(
-                            doc.syntax(),
-                            text,
-                            range,
-                            objtype,
-                            count,
-                        ),
-                        'g' => textobject_change(range),
-                        // TODO: cancel new ranges if inconsistent surround matches across lines
-                        ch if !ch.is_ascii_alphanumeric() => textobject::textobject_pair_surround(
-                            doc.syntax(),
-                            text,
-                            range,
-                            objtype,
-                            ch,
-                            count,
-                        ),
-                        _ => range,
-                    }
-                });
-                doc.set_selection(view.id, selection);
+fn select_textobject_around_closest_surrounding_pair(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_closest_surrounding_pair(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around);
+}
+
+fn textobject_closest_surrounding_pair(cx: &mut Context, textobject: textobject::TextObject) {
+    let count = cx.count();
+    let motion = move |editor: &mut Editor| {
+        let (view, doc) = current!(editor);
+        let text = doc.text().slice(..);
+        let syntax = doc.syntax();
+        let selection = doc.selection(view.id).clone().transform(|range| {
+            textobject::textobject_pair_surround_closest(syntax, text, range, textobject, count)
+        });
+        doc.set_selection(view.id, selection);
+    };
+    cx.editor.apply_motion(motion);
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_inside_word(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_word(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside, false);
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_around_word(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_word(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around, false);
+}
+
+#[allow(non_snake_case)]
+fn select_textobject_inside_WORD(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_word(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside, true);
+}
+
+#[allow(non_snake_case)]
+fn select_textobject_around_WORD(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_word(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around, true);
+}
+
+fn textobject_word(cx: &mut Context, textobject: textobject::TextObject, longword: bool) {
+    let count = cx.count();
+    let motion = move |editor: &mut Editor| {
+        let (view, doc) = current!(editor);
+        let text = doc.text().slice(..);
+        let selection = doc.selection(view.id).clone().transform(|range| {
+            textobject::textobject_word(text, range, textobject, count, longword)
+        });
+        doc.set_selection(view.id, selection);
+    };
+    cx.editor.apply_motion(motion);
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_inside_change(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_change(cx);
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_around_change(cx: &mut Context) {
+    textobject_change(cx);
+}
+
+fn textobject_change(cx: &mut Context) {
+    let motion = move |editor: &mut Editor| {
+        let (view, doc) = current!(editor);
+        let Some(diff_handle) = doc.diff_handle() else {
+            editor.set_status("Diff is not available in current buffer");
+            return;
+        };
+        let diff = diff_handle.load();
+        let text = doc.text().slice(..);
+        let selection = doc.selection(view.id).clone().transform(|range| {
+            let line = range.cursor_line(text);
+            let hunk_idx = if let Some(hunk_idx) = diff.hunk_at(line as u32, false) {
+                hunk_idx
+            } else {
+                return range;
             };
-            cx.editor.apply_motion(textobject);
-        }
-    });
+            let hunk = diff.nth_hunk(hunk_idx).after;
 
-    let title = match objtype {
-        textobject::TextObject::Inside => "Match inside",
-        textobject::TextObject::Around => "Match around",
-        _ => return,
+            let start = text.line_to_char(hunk.start as usize);
+            let end = text.line_to_char(hunk.end as usize);
+            Range::new(start, end).with_direction(range.direction())
+        });
+        drop(diff);
+        doc.set_selection(view.id, selection);
     };
-    let help_text = [
-        ("w", "Word"),
-        ("W", "WORD"),
-        ("p", "Paragraph"),
-        ("t", "Type definition (tree-sitter)"),
-        ("f", "Function (tree-sitter)"),
-        ("a", "Argument/parameter (tree-sitter)"),
-        ("c", "Comment (tree-sitter)"),
-        ("T", "Test (tree-sitter)"),
-        ("e", "Data structure entry (tree-sitter)"),
-        ("m", "Closest surrounding pair (tree-sitter)"),
-        ("g", "Change"),
-        (" ", "... or any character acting as a pair"),
-    ];
+    cx.editor.apply_motion(motion);
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_inside_surrounding_pair(cx: &mut Context, ch: char) {
+    textobject_surrounding_pair(cx, textobject::TextObject::Inside, ch);
+}
+
+fn select_textobject_around_surrounding_pair(cx: &mut Context, ch: char) {
+    textobject_surrounding_pair(cx, textobject::TextObject::Around, ch);
+}
+
+fn textobject_surrounding_pair(
+    cx: &mut Context,
+    textobject: textobject::TextObject,
+    pair_char: char,
+) {
+    if pair_char.is_ascii_alphanumeric() {
+        return;
+    }
 
-    cx.editor.autoinfo = Some(Info::new(title, &help_text));
+    let count = cx.count();
+    let motion = move |editor: &mut Editor| {
+        let (view, doc) = current!(editor);
+        let text = doc.text().slice(..);
+        let syntax = doc.syntax();
+        let selection = doc.selection(view.id).clone().transform(|range| {
+            textobject::textobject_pair_surround(syntax, text, range, textobject, pair_char, count)
+        });
+        doc.set_selection(view.id, selection);
+    };
+    cx.editor.apply_motion(motion);
 }
 
 fn surround_add(cx: &mut Context) {
diff --git a/helix-term/src/keymap.rs b/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
index 020ecaf40..c9931e26c 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pub mod default;
 pub mod macros;
 
+use crate::commands::FallbackCommand;
 pub use crate::commands::MappableCommand;
 use arc_swap::{
     access::{DynAccess, DynGuard},
@@ -24,7 +25,8 @@ pub struct KeyTrieNode {
     name: String,
     map: HashMap<KeyEvent, KeyTrie>,
     order: Vec<KeyEvent>,
-    pub is_sticky: bool,
+    is_sticky: bool,
+    fallback: Option<FallbackCommand>,
 }
 
 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for KeyTrieNode {
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@ impl KeyTrieNode {
             map,
             order,
             is_sticky: false,
+            fallback: None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -99,13 +102,16 @@ impl KeyTrieNode {
                 .unwrap()
         });
 
-        let body: Vec<_> = body
+        let mut body: Vec<_> = body
             .into_iter()
             .map(|(events, desc)| {
                 let events = events.iter().map(ToString::to_string).collect::<Vec<_>>();
                 (events.join(", "), desc)
             })
             .collect();
+        if let Some(fallback) = self.fallback.as_ref() {
+            body.push(("...".to_string(), fallback.doc()));
+        }
         Info::new(&self.name, &body)
     }
 }
@@ -267,6 +273,28 @@ impl KeyTrie {
         }
         Some(trie)
     }
+
+    pub fn search_fallback(&self, keys: &[KeyEvent]) -> Option<&FallbackCommand> {
+        // TODO: this is copied from above, hacky
+        let mut trie = self;
+        let mut keys = keys.iter().peekable();
+        while let Some(key) = keys.next() {
+            trie = match trie {
+                KeyTrie::Node(map) => match map.get(key) {
+                    Some(i) => Some(i),
+                    None => {
+                        if keys.peek().is_none() {
+                            return map.fallback.as_ref();
+                        }
+                        None
+                    }
+                },
+                // leaf encountered while keys left to process
+                KeyTrie::MappableCommand(_) | KeyTrie::Sequence(_) => None,
+            }?
+        }
+        None
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
@@ -281,6 +309,7 @@ pub enum KeymapResult {
     /// Key is invalid in combination with previous keys. Contains keys leading upto
     /// and including current (invalid) key.
     Cancelled(Vec<KeyEvent>),
+    Fallback(FallbackCommand, char),
 }
 
 /// A map of command names to keybinds that will execute the command.
@@ -376,7 +405,16 @@ impl Keymaps {
                 self.state.clear();
                 KeymapResult::MatchedSequence(cmds.clone())
             }
-            None => KeymapResult::Cancelled(self.state.drain(..).collect()),
+            None => {
+                if let Some(ch) = key.char() {
+                    if let Some(fallback) = trie.search_fallback(&self.state[1..]) {
+                        self.state.clear();
+                        return KeymapResult::Fallback(fallback.clone(), ch);
+                    }
+                }
+
+                KeymapResult::Cancelled(self.state.drain(..).collect())
+            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/helix-term/src/keymap/default.rs b/helix-term/src/keymap/default.rs
index 5a3e8eed4..fcb1710c3 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/keymap/default.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/keymap/default.rs
@@ -104,8 +104,32 @@ pub fn default() -> HashMap<Mode, KeyTrie> {
             "s" => surround_add,
             "r" => surround_replace,
             "d" => surround_delete,
-            "a" => select_textobject_around,
-            "i" => select_textobject_inner,
+            "i" => { "Match inside" fallback=select_textobject_inside_surrounding_pair
+                "w" => select_textobject_inside_word,
+                "W" => select_textobject_inside_WORD,
+                "p" => select_textobject_inside_paragraph,
+                "t" => select_textobject_inside_type,
+                "f" => select_textobject_inside_function,
+                "a" => select_textobject_inside_parameter,
+                "c" => select_textobject_inside_comment,
+                "T" => select_textobject_inside_test,
+                "e" => select_textobject_inside_entry,
+                "m" => select_textobject_inside_closest_surrounding_pair,
+                "g" => select_textobject_inside_change,
+            },
+            "a" => { "Match around" fallback=select_textobject_around_surrounding_pair
+                "w" => select_textobject_around_word,
+                "W" => select_textobject_around_WORD,
+                "p" => select_textobject_around_paragraph,
+                "t" => select_textobject_around_type,
+                "f" => select_textobject_around_function,
+                "a" => select_textobject_around_parameter,
+                "c" => select_textobject_around_comment,
+                "T" => select_textobject_around_test,
+                "e" => select_textobject_around_entry,
+                "m" => select_textobject_around_closest_surrounding_pair,
+                "g" => select_textobject_around_change,
+            },
         },
         "[" => { "Left bracket"
             "d" => goto_prev_diag,
diff --git a/helix-term/src/keymap/macros.rs b/helix-term/src/keymap/macros.rs
index 15d2aa53b..13d261449 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/keymap/macros.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/keymap/macros.rs
@@ -84,9 +84,9 @@ macro_rules! keymap {
     };
 
     (@trie
-        { $label:literal $(sticky=$sticky:literal)? $($($key:literal)|+ => $value:tt,)+ }
+        { $label:literal $(sticky=$sticky:literal)? $(fallback=$fallback:ident)? $($($key:literal)|+ => $value:tt,)+ }
     ) => {
-        keymap!({ $label $(sticky=$sticky)? $($($key)|+ => $value,)+ })
+        keymap!({ $label $(sticky=$sticky)? $(fallback=$fallback)? $($($key)|+ => $value,)+ })
     };
 
     (@trie [$($cmd:ident),* $(,)?]) => {
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ macro_rules! keymap {
     };
 
     (
-        { $label:literal $(sticky=$sticky:literal)? $($($key:literal)|+ => $value:tt,)+ }
+        { $label:literal $(sticky=$sticky:literal)? $(fallback=$fallback:ident)? $($($key:literal)|+ => $value:tt,)+ }
     ) => {
         // modified from the hashmap! macro
         {
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ macro_rules! keymap {
                 )+
             )*
             let mut _node = $crate::keymap::KeyTrieNode::new($label, _map, _order);
+            $( _node.fallback = Some($crate::commands::FallbackCommand::$fallback); )?
             $( _node.is_sticky = $sticky; )?
             $crate::keymap::KeyTrie::Node(_node)
         }
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
index f7541fe25..81144e667 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
@@ -909,6 +909,9 @@ impl EditorView {
                 }
             }
             KeymapResult::NotFound | KeymapResult::Cancelled(_) => return Some(key_result),
+            KeymapResult::Fallback(fallback, ch) => {
+                fallback.execute(cxt, *ch);
+            }
         }
         None
     }