diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/ApiKeyStep.test.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/ApiKeyStep.test.tsx
index add5303..ecb106e 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/ApiKeyStep.test.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/ApiKeyStep.test.tsx
@@ -1,14 +1,9 @@
 import { useInput } from 'ink';
-import { useStepperInput } from 'ink-stepper';
 import { render } from 'ink-testing-library';
 import React from 'react';
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { ApiKeyStep } from './ApiKeyStep';
 
-vi.mock('ink-stepper', () => ({
-	useStepperInput: vi.fn(),
-}));
-
 vi.mock('ink', async () => {
 	const actual = await vi.importActual('ink');
 	return {
@@ -18,15 +13,8 @@ vi.mock('ink', async () => {
 });
 
 describe('ApiKeyStep', () => {
-	const mockDisableNavigation = vi.fn();
-	const mockEnableNavigation = vi.fn();
-
 	beforeEach(() => {
 		vi.clearAllMocks();
-		(useStepperInput as any).mockReturnValue({
-			disableNavigation: mockDisableNavigation,
-			enableNavigation: mockEnableNavigation,
-		});
 	});
 
 	it('renders API key prompt for OpenAI', () => {
diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/ApiKeyStep.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/ApiKeyStep.tsx
index 9ccaca6..2886534 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/ApiKeyStep.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/ApiKeyStep.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { Box, Text, useInput } from 'ink';
-import { useStepperInput } from 'ink-stepper';
-import React, { useEffect } from 'react';
+import React from 'react';
 import { BlinkingTextInput } from '../components/BlinkingTextInput';
 import { emitToListeners } from '../emitters/listener';
 import type { ModelProvider } from '../models/config';
@@ -13,13 +12,6 @@ export function ApiKeyStep(
 		onBack: () => void;
 	},
 ) {
-	const { disableNavigation, enableNavigation } = useStepperInput();
-
-	useEffect(() => {
-		disableNavigation();
-		return () => enableNavigation();
-	}, [disableNavigation, enableNavigation]);
-
 	useInput((input, key) => {
 		if (key.escape) {
 			onBack();
diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/ApiUrlStep.test.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/ApiUrlStep.test.tsx
index dcd85e4..4684cca 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/ApiUrlStep.test.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/ApiUrlStep.test.tsx
@@ -1,14 +1,9 @@
 import { useInput } from 'ink';
-import { useStepperInput } from 'ink-stepper';
 import { render } from 'ink-testing-library';
 import React from 'react';
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { ApiUrlStep } from './ApiUrlStep';
 
-vi.mock('ink-stepper', () => ({
-	useStepperInput: vi.fn(),
-}));
-
 vi.mock('ink', async () => {
 	const actual = await vi.importActual('ink');
 	return {
@@ -18,15 +13,8 @@ vi.mock('ink', async () => {
 });
 
 describe('ApiUrlStep', () => {
-	const mockDisableNavigation = vi.fn();
-	const mockEnableNavigation = vi.fn();
-
 	beforeEach(() => {
 		vi.clearAllMocks();
-		(useStepperInput as any).mockReturnValue({
-			disableNavigation: mockDisableNavigation,
-			enableNavigation: mockEnableNavigation,
-		});
 	});
 
 	it('renders API URL prompt for Ollama', () => {
diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/ApiUrlStep.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/ApiUrlStep.tsx
index 3090ee6..b67505f 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/ApiUrlStep.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/ApiUrlStep.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { Box, Text, useInput } from 'ink';
-import { useStepperInput } from 'ink-stepper';
-import React, { useEffect } from 'react';
+import React from 'react';
 import { BlinkingTextInput } from '../components/BlinkingTextInput';
 import { emitToListeners } from '../emitters/listener';
 import type { ModelProvider } from '../models/config';
@@ -13,13 +12,6 @@ export function ApiUrlStep(
 		onBack: () => void;
 	},
 ) {
-	const { disableNavigation, enableNavigation } = useStepperInput();
-
-	useEffect(() => {
-		disableNavigation();
-		return () => enableNavigation();
-	}, [disableNavigation, enableNavigation]);
-
 	useInput((input, key) => {
 		if (key.escape) {
 			onBack();
diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/ConfigurationWizard.test.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/ConfigurationWizard.test.tsx
index 7602bf1..8ddc513 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/ConfigurationWizard.test.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/ConfigurationWizard.test.tsx
@@ -39,4 +39,14 @@ describe('ConfigurationWizard', () => {
 
 		expect(emitToListeners).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ExitUI', undefined);
 	});
+
+	it('does not complete the wizard on <esc> (each step owns back-navigation)', () => {
+		const onComplete = vi.fn();
+		render(<ConfigurationWizard onComplete={onComplete} />);
+
+		const inputHandler = (useInput as any).mock.calls[0][0];
+		inputHandler('', { escape: true });
+
+		expect(onComplete).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+	});
 });
diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/ConfigurationWizard.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/ConfigurationWizard.tsx
index 652c3f3..ed55d42 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/ConfigurationWizard.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/ConfigurationWizard.tsx
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ export function ConfigurationWizard({ onComplete }: Props) {
 		}
 	}, [provider]);
 
+	// <esc> is owned per-step (back-navigation, or leaving a sub-mode); the wizard only binds
+	// global exit keys here. Handling <esc> at this level too would double-fire with the active
+	// step — Ink delivers input to every mounted useInput — and complete the wizard instead.
 	useInput((input, key) => {
 		if (key.ctrl && input === 'x') {
 			emitToListeners('ExitUI', undefined);
 		}
-		if (key.escape) {
-			onComplete();
-		}
 	});
 
 	const models = provider === 'Ollama' && ollamaModels.length > 0
@@ -53,12 +53,18 @@ export function ConfigurationWizard({ onComplete }: Props) {
 		? [...new Set([...ollamaModels, ...compactorModelsByProvider[provider]])]
 		: compactorModelsByProvider[provider];
 
+	// Every step owns its own keys: its input widget consumes <enter> and advances by calling
+	// goNext() from onConfirm, and each step binds <esc> itself. The Stepper's built-in
+	// bindings would double-handle <enter> on top of that, which is why every step used to
+	// switch them off via disableNavigation() for its whole lifetime. Saying keyboardNav={false}
+	// once states that directly, and leaves goNext() free of however the library happens to
+	// gate its own navigation — ink-stepper 0.2.3 extended that gate to programmatic calls.
 	return (
 		<Box flexDirection="column" padding={1} minHeight={10}>
 			<Stepper
 				onComplete={onComplete}
 				onCancel={curryEmitToListeners('ExitUI', undefined)}
-				keyboardNav={true}
+				keyboardNav={false}
 				renderProgress={StepperProgress}
 			>
 				<Step name="AI Provider">
diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/EnvironmentSettingsStep.test.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/EnvironmentSettingsStep.test.tsx
index 9707638..e01089d 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/EnvironmentSettingsStep.test.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/EnvironmentSettingsStep.test.tsx
@@ -1,14 +1,9 @@
 import { useInput } from 'ink';
-import { useStepperInput } from 'ink-stepper';
 import { render } from 'ink-testing-library';
 import React from 'react';
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { EnvironmentSettingsStep } from './EnvironmentSettingsStep';
 
-vi.mock('ink-stepper', () => ({
-	useStepperInput: vi.fn(),
-}));
-
 vi.mock('ink', async () => {
 	const actual = await vi.importActual('ink');
 	return {
@@ -18,15 +13,8 @@ vi.mock('ink', async () => {
 });
 
 describe('EnvironmentSettingsStep', () => {
-	const mockDisableNavigation = vi.fn();
-	const mockEnableNavigation = vi.fn();
-
 	beforeEach(() => {
 		vi.clearAllMocks();
-		(useStepperInput as any).mockReturnValue({
-			disableNavigation: mockDisableNavigation,
-			enableNavigation: mockEnableNavigation,
-		});
 	});
 
 	it('renders settings options', () => {
diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/EnvironmentSettingsStep.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/EnvironmentSettingsStep.tsx
index 3463cb6..22c7f99 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/EnvironmentSettingsStep.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/EnvironmentSettingsStep.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { MultiSelect } from '@inkjs/ui';
 import { Box, Text, useInput } from 'ink';
-import { useStepperInput } from 'ink-stepper';
-import React, { useEffect } from 'react';
+import React from 'react';
 import { updateEnv } from '../../utils/files/updateEnv';
 
 interface Props {
@@ -38,13 +37,6 @@ const SETTINGS = [
 ];
 
 export function EnvironmentSettingsStep({ onConfirm, onBack }: Props) {
-	const { disableNavigation, enableNavigation } = useStepperInput();
-
-	useEffect(() => {
-		disableNavigation();
-		return () => enableNavigation();
-	}, [disableNavigation, enableNavigation]);
-
 	useInput((_input, key) => {
 		if (key.escape) {
 			onBack();
diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/ModelSelectionStep.test.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/ModelSelectionStep.test.tsx
index a853c8d..4cb2dd3 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/ModelSelectionStep.test.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/ModelSelectionStep.test.tsx
@@ -1,14 +1,9 @@
 import { useInput } from 'ink';
-import { useStepperInput } from 'ink-stepper';
 import { render } from 'ink-testing-library';
 import React from 'react';
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { ModelSelectionStep } from './ModelSelectionStep';
 
-vi.mock('ink-stepper', () => ({
-	useStepperInput: vi.fn(),
-}));
-
 vi.mock('ink', async () => {
 	const actual = await vi.importActual('ink');
 	return {
@@ -18,15 +13,8 @@ vi.mock('ink', async () => {
 });
 
 describe('ModelSelectionStep', () => {
-	const mockDisableNavigation = vi.fn();
-	const mockEnableNavigation = vi.fn();
-
 	beforeEach(() => {
 		vi.clearAllMocks();
-		(useStepperInput as any).mockReturnValue({
-			disableNavigation: mockDisableNavigation,
-			enableNavigation: mockEnableNavigation,
-		});
 	});
 
 	it('renders title and models', () => {
diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/ModelSelectionStep.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/ModelSelectionStep.tsx
index 7b379a8..0aa4083 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/ModelSelectionStep.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/ModelSelectionStep.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { Select } from '@inkjs/ui';
 import { Box, Text, useInput } from 'ink';
-import { useStepperInput } from 'ink-stepper';
-import React, { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
+import React, { useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 import { BlinkingTextInput } from '../components/BlinkingTextInput';
 import { emitToListeners } from '../emitters/listener';
 
@@ -18,14 +17,8 @@ export function ModelSelectionStep({
 	onConfirm: (model: string) => void;
 	onBack: () => void;
 }) {
-	const { disableNavigation, enableNavigation } = useStepperInput();
 	const [isCustom, setIsCustom] = useState(false);
 
-	useEffect(() => {
-		disableNavigation();
-		return () => enableNavigation();
-	}, [isCustom, disableNavigation, enableNavigation]);
-
 	useInput((input, key) => {
 		if (key.escape) {
 			if (isCustom) {
diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/ProviderStep.test.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/ProviderStep.test.tsx
index 3ae8a67..d46c856 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/ProviderStep.test.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/ProviderStep.test.tsx
@@ -1,23 +1,11 @@
-import { useStepperInput } from 'ink-stepper';
 import { render } from 'ink-testing-library';
 import React from 'react';
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { ProviderStep } from './ProviderStep';
 
-vi.mock('ink-stepper', () => ({
-	useStepperInput: vi.fn(),
-}));
-
 describe('ProviderStep', () => {
-	const mockDisableNavigation = vi.fn();
-	const mockEnableNavigation = vi.fn();
-
 	beforeEach(() => {
 		vi.clearAllMocks();
-		(useStepperInput as any).mockReturnValue({
-			disableNavigation: mockDisableNavigation,
-			enableNavigation: mockEnableNavigation,
-		});
 	});
 
 	it('renders provider selection message', () => {
@@ -26,13 +14,4 @@ describe('ProviderStep', () => {
 
 		expect(lastFrame()).toContain('What model provider would you like to use today?');
 	});
-
-	it('disables stepper navigation on mount and enables on unmount', () => {
-		const onConfirm = vi.fn();
-		const { unmount } = render(<ProviderStep onConfirm={onConfirm} />);
-
-		expect(mockDisableNavigation).toHaveBeenCalled();
-		unmount();
-		expect(mockEnableNavigation).toHaveBeenCalled();
-	});
 });
diff --git a/ink/configurationWizard/ProviderStep.tsx b/ink/configurationWizard/ProviderStep.tsx
index dc439b2..09b15da 100644
--- a/ink/configurationWizard/ProviderStep.tsx
+++ b/ink/configurationWizard/ProviderStep.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { Select } from '@inkjs/ui';
 import { Box, Text, useInput } from 'ink';
-import { useStepperInput } from 'ink-stepper';
-import React, { useEffect, useMemo } from 'react';
+import React, { useMemo } from 'react';
 import type { ModelProvider } from '../models/config';
 import { providers } from './providers';
 
@@ -12,7 +11,6 @@ export function ProviderStep(
 		onExit: () => void;
 	},
 ) {
-	const { disableNavigation, enableNavigation } = useStepperInput();
 	const sortedProviders = useMemo(
 		() =>
 			[...providers].sort((a, b) => {
@@ -23,11 +21,6 @@ export function ProviderStep(
 		[defaultValue],
 	);
 
-	useEffect(() => {
-		disableNavigation();
-		return () => enableNavigation();
-	}, [disableNavigation, enableNavigation]);
-
 	useInput((input, key) => {
 		if (key.escape) {
 			onExit();