diff --git a/distrho/extra/ExternalWindow.hpp b/distrho/extra/ExternalWindow.hpp
index 5284ebaf..c4d502e2 100644
--- a/distrho/extra/ExternalWindow.hpp
+++ b/distrho/extra/ExternalWindow.hpp
@@ -410,6 +410,15 @@ protected:
         return; (void)winId;
     }
 
+   /**
+      A callback for host keystrokes.
+    */
+    virtual bool onPluginKeyboard(const bool press, const uint key, const uint16_t mods)
+    {
+        // unused, meant for custom implementations
+        return false; (void)press; (void)key; (void)mods;
+    }
+
 private:
     friend class PluginWindow;
     friend class UI;
diff --git a/distrho/src/DistrhoPluginVST2.cpp b/distrho/src/DistrhoPluginVST2.cpp
index e8af1507..b0260e03 100644
--- a/distrho/src/DistrhoPluginVST2.cpp
+++ b/distrho/src/DistrhoPluginVST2.cpp
@@ -190,9 +190,7 @@ public:
               nullptr,
               plugin->getInstancePointer(),
               scaleFactor)
-# if !DISTRHO_PLUGIN_HAS_EXTERNAL_UI
         , fKeyboardModifiers(0)
-# endif
 # if DISTRHO_PLUGIN_WANT_MIDI_INPUT
         , fNotesRingBuffer()
 # endif
@@ -253,7 +251,6 @@ public:
     }
 # endif
 
-# if !DISTRHO_PLUGIN_HAS_EXTERNAL_UI
     int handlePluginKeyEvent(const bool down, int32_t index, const intptr_t value)
     {
         d_stdout("handlePluginKeyEvent %i %i %li\n", down, index, (long int)value);
@@ -369,7 +366,6 @@ public:
 
         return 0;
     }
-# endif // !DISTRHO_PLUGIN_HAS_EXTERNAL_UI
 
     // -------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -435,9 +431,7 @@ private:
 
     // Plugin UI
     UIExporter fUI;
-# if !DISTRHO_PLUGIN_HAS_EXTERNAL_UI
     uint16_t fKeyboardModifiers;
-# endif
 # if DISTRHO_PLUGIN_WANT_MIDI_INPUT
     RingBufferControl<SmallStackBuffer> fNotesRingBuffer;
 # endif
@@ -761,7 +755,6 @@ public:
                 fVstUI->idle();
             break;
 
-# if !DISTRHO_PLUGIN_HAS_EXTERNAL_UI
         case effEditKeyDown:
             if (fVstUI != nullptr)
                 return fVstUI->handlePluginKeyEvent(true, index, value);
@@ -771,7 +764,6 @@ public:
             if (fVstUI != nullptr)
                 return fVstUI->handlePluginKeyEvent(false, index, value);
             break;
-# endif
 #endif // DISTRHO_PLUGIN_HAS_UI
 
 #if DISTRHO_PLUGIN_WANT_STATE
diff --git a/distrho/src/DistrhoUIInternal.hpp b/distrho/src/DistrhoUIInternal.hpp
index 591dc992..45e72741 100644
--- a/distrho/src/DistrhoUIInternal.hpp
+++ b/distrho/src/DistrhoUIInternal.hpp
@@ -257,7 +257,18 @@ public:
         return ! uiData->app.isQuitting();
     }
 
-#if !DISTRHO_PLUGIN_HAS_EXTERNAL_UI
+#if DISTRHO_PLUGIN_HAS_EXTERNAL_UI
+    bool handlePluginKeyboard(const bool press, const uint key, const uint16_t mods)
+    {
+        return ui->onPluginKeyboard(press, key, mods);
+    }
+
+    bool handlePluginSpecial(const bool press, const DGL_NAMESPACE::Key key, const uint16_t mods)
+    {
+        // unsupported
+        return false; (void)press; (void)key; (void)mods;
+    }
+#else
     bool handlePluginKeyboard(const bool press, const uint key, const uint16_t mods)
     {
         // TODO also trigger Character input event