diff --git a/src/ply-window.c b/src/ply-window.c
index 747fa3ee..a3dc8891 100644
--- a/src/ply-window.c
+++ b/src/ply-window.c
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@
 #include "ply-utils.h"
 
 #define KEY_CTRL_T ('\100' ^'T')
+#define KEY_CTRL_U ('\100' ^'U')
+#define KEY_CTRL_W ('\100' ^'W')
 #define KEY_CTRL_V ('\100' ^'V')
 #define KEY_ESCAPE ('\100' ^'[')
 #define KEY_RETURN '\r'
@@ -118,6 +120,15 @@ process_backspace (ply_window_t *window)
     }
 }
 
+static void
+process_line_erase (ply_window_t *window)
+{
+  size_t size;
+
+  while ((size = ply_buffer_get_size (window->line_buffer)) > 0)
+    process_backspace (window);
+}
+
 static void
 process_keyboard_input (ply_window_t *window,
                         const char   *keyboard_input,
@@ -136,6 +147,12 @@ process_keyboard_input (ply_window_t *window,
             ply_trace ("text mode toggled!");
           return;
 
+          case KEY_CTRL_U:
+          case KEY_CTRL_W:
+            ply_trace ("erase line!");
+            process_line_erase (window);
+          return;
+
           case KEY_CTRL_V:
             ply_trace ("toggle verbose mode!");
             ply_toggle_tracing ();