diff --git a/glide.default.toml b/glide.default.toml
index e8a64b0..c9bc3fa 100644
--- a/glide.default.toml
+++ b/glide.default.toml
@@ -35,6 +35,15 @@ group_bars.vertical_placement = "right"
 # Enables the status icon.
 status_icon.enable = true
 
+# Whether to include Glide's default key bindings.
+#
+# Note: Default keys are always included if there is no keys section of the
+# config. You can disable this by adding an empty `[keys]` section to your
+# config file.
+#
+# Individual key bindings can be disabled by setting the key to "disabled".
+default_keys = false
+
 [keys]
 # Note: Modifier and key names must be capitalized.
 
diff --git a/src/actor/mouse.rs b/src/actor/mouse.rs
index d61e3db..34639ca 100644
--- a/src/actor/mouse.rs
+++ b/src/actor/mouse.rs
@@ -147,8 +147,9 @@ impl Mouse {
                 state.screens = frames;
                 state.converter = converter;
             }
-            Request::ConfigUpdated(config) => {
-                *self.config.borrow_mut() = config;
+            Request::ConfigUpdated(new_config) => {
+                drop(config);
+                *self.config.borrow_mut() = new_config;
                 self.apply_config();
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index e1310a6..5dad219 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,20 @@ pub struct Config {
 #[serde(default)]
 struct ConfigPartial {
     settings: SettingsPartial,
-    keys: Option<FxHashMap<String, WmCommand>>,
+    keys: Option<FxHashMap<String, WmCommandOrDisable>>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(untagged)]
+enum WmCommandOrDisable {
+    WmCommand(WmCommand),
+    Disable(Disabled),
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+enum Disabled {
+    Disable,
 }
 
 #[derive(PartialConfig!)]
@@ -66,6 +79,7 @@ pub struct Settings {
     pub focus_follows_mouse: bool,
     pub outer_gap: f64,
     pub inner_gap: f64,
+    pub default_keys: bool,
     #[derive_args(GroupBarsPartial)]
     pub group_bars: GroupBars,
     #[derive_args(StatusIconPartial)]
@@ -143,6 +157,10 @@ impl ConfigPartial {
     fn validate(self) -> Result<Config, SpannedError> {
         let mut keys = Vec::new();
         for (key, cmd) in self.keys.unwrap_or_default() {
+            let cmd = match cmd {
+                WmCommandOrDisable::WmCommand(wm_command) => wm_command,
+                WmCommandOrDisable::Disable(_) => continue,
+            };
             let Ok(key) = Hotkey::from_str(&key) else {
                 return Err(SpannedError {
                     message: format!("Could not parse hotkey: {key}"),
@@ -158,9 +176,16 @@ impl ConfigPartial {
     }
 
     fn merge(low: Self, high: Self) -> Self {
+        let mut keys =
+            if high.settings.default_keys.unwrap_or(Config::default().settings.default_keys) {
+                low.keys.unwrap_or_default()
+            } else {
+                Default::default()
+            };
+        keys.extend(high.keys.unwrap_or_default());
         Self {
             settings: SettingsPartial::merge(low.settings, high.settings),
-            keys: high.keys.or(low.keys),
+            keys: Some(keys),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -247,4 +272,90 @@ mod tests {
     fn default_settings_match_unspecified_setting_values() {
         assert_eq!(Config::default().settings, Config::parse("").unwrap().settings);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn default_keys_false_excludes_default_bindings() {
+        let config = Config::parse(
+            r#"
+            [settings]
+            default_keys = false
+
+            [keys]
+            "Alt + Q" = "debug"
+            "#,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        // Should only have our custom key, not the defaults
+        assert_eq!(config.keys.len(), 1);
+        let (hotkey, _cmd) = &config.keys[0];
+        assert_eq!(hotkey.to_string(), "Alt + KeyQ");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn default_keys_true_includes_default_bindings() {
+        let config = Config::parse(
+            r#"
+            [settings]
+            default_keys = true
+
+            [keys]
+            "Alt + Q" = "debug"
+            "#,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        // Should have default keys plus our custom key
+        let default_key_count = Config::default().keys.len();
+        assert_eq!(config.keys.len(), default_key_count + 1);
+
+        // Our custom key should be present
+        assert!(config.keys.iter().any(|(hk, _)| hk.to_string() == "Alt + KeyQ"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn disable_removes_key_binding() {
+        let config = Config::parse(
+            r#"
+            [settings]
+            default_keys = false
+
+            [keys]
+            "Alt + Q" = "debug"
+            "Alt + W" = "disable"
+            "#,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        // "disable" key should not appear in final config
+        assert_eq!(config.keys.len(), 1);
+        assert!(config.keys.iter().any(|(hk, _)| hk.to_string() == "Alt + KeyQ"));
+        assert!(!config.keys.iter().any(|(hk, _)| hk.to_string() == "Alt + KeyW"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn disable_can_override_default_key() {
+        // First verify Alt+H exists in defaults
+        let default_config = Config::default();
+        assert!(
+            default_config.keys.iter().any(|(hk, _)| hk.to_string() == "Alt + KeyH"),
+            "Alt+H should be a default key binding"
+        );
+
+        let config = Config::parse(
+            r#"
+            [settings]
+            default_keys = true
+
+            [keys]
+            "Alt + H" = "disable"
+            "#,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        // Alt+H should be removed even though it's in defaults
+        assert!(!config.keys.iter().any(|(hk, _)| hk.to_string() == "Alt + KeyH"));
+        // But other default keys should still be present
+        assert!(config.keys.iter().any(|(hk, _)| hk.to_string() == "Alt + KeyJ"));
+    }
 }