diff --git a/pyrepl/commands.py b/pyrepl/commands.py
index af71c70..c121f34 100644
--- a/pyrepl/commands.py
+++ b/pyrepl/commands.py
@@ -369,8 +369,12 @@ def do(self):
 
 class qIHelp(Command):
     def do(self):
+        from .reader import disp_str
+
         r = self.reader
-        r.insert((bytes(self.event) + r.console.getpending().data) * r.get_arg())
+        pending = r.console.getpending().data
+        disp = disp_str((self.event + pending))[0]
+        r.insert(disp * r.get_arg())
         r.pop_input_trans()
 
 from pyrepl import input
@@ -379,7 +383,7 @@ class QITrans(object):
     def push(self, evt):
         self.evt = evt
     def get(self):
-        return ('qIHelp', self.evt.raw)
+        return ('qIHelp', self.evt.data)
 
 class quoted_insert(Command):
     kills_digit_arg = 0
diff --git a/testing/infrastructure.py b/testing/infrastructure.py
index c5a4c96..e90298b 100644
--- a/testing/infrastructure.py
+++ b/testing/infrastructure.py
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ def get_event(self, block=1):
             print("event", ev)
         return Event(*ev)
 
+    def getpending(self):
+        """Nothing pending, but do not return None here."""
+        return Event('key', '', b'')
+
 
 class TestReader(Reader):
     __test__ = False
diff --git a/testing/test_wishes.py b/testing/test_wishes.py
index 650dff7..d0c1e6f 100644
--- a/testing/test_wishes.py
+++ b/testing/test_wishes.py
@@ -27,5 +27,5 @@ def test_quoted_insert_repeat():
     read_spec([
         (('digit-arg', '3'),      ['']),
         (('quoted-insert', None), ['']),
-        (('self-insert', '\033'), ['^[^[^[']),
+        (('key', '\033'),         ['^[^[^[']),
         (('accept', None),        None)])