diff --git a/src/console.c b/src/console.c
index 3fa9b8a97..11aa5cd56 100644
--- a/src/console.c
+++ b/src/console.c
@@ -619,9 +619,7 @@ void CON_Ticker(void)
 //
 boolean CON_Responder(event_t *ev)
 {
-	static boolean consdown;
-	static boolean shiftdown;
-	static boolean ctrldown;
+	static UINT8 consdown = false; // console is treated differently due to rare usage
 
 	// sequential completions a la 4dos
 	static char completion[80];
@@ -636,13 +634,8 @@ boolean CON_Responder(event_t *ev)
 	// let go keyup events, don't eat them
 	if (ev->type != ev_keydown && ev->type != ev_console)
 	{
-		if (ev->data1 == KEY_LSHIFT || ev->data1 == KEY_RSHIFT)
-			shiftdown = false;
-		else if (ev->data1 == KEY_LCTRL || ev->data1 == KEY_RCTRL)
-			ctrldown = false;
-		else if (ev->data1 == gamecontrol[gc_console][0] || ev->data1 == gamecontrol[gc_console][1])
+		if (ev->data1 == gamecontrol[gc_console][0] || ev->data1 == gamecontrol[gc_console][1])
 			consdown = false;
-
 		return false;
 	}
 
@@ -684,20 +677,6 @@ boolean CON_Responder(event_t *ev)
 
 	}
 
-	// eat shift only if console active
-	if (key == KEY_LSHIFT || key == KEY_RSHIFT)
-	{
-		shiftdown = true;
-		return true;
-	}
-
-	// same for ctrl
-	if (key == KEY_LCTRL || key == KEY_RCTRL)
-	{
-		ctrldown = true;
-		return true;
-	}
-
 	// command completion forward (tab) and backward (shift-tab)
 	if (key == KEY_TAB)
 	{
diff --git a/src/d_main.c b/src/d_main.c
index b61ec4143..2caf50087 100644
--- a/src/d_main.c
+++ b/src/d_main.c
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ int	snprintf(char *str, size_t n, const char *fmt, ...);
 #include "dehacked.h" // Dehacked list test
 #include "m_cond.h" // condition initialization
 #include "fastcmp.h"
+#include "keys.h"
 
 #ifdef CMAKECONFIG
 #include "config.h"
@@ -176,6 +177,38 @@ void D_PostEvent(const event_t *ev)
 void D_PostEvent_end(void) {};
 #endif
 
+// modifier keys
+UINT8 shiftdown = 0; // 0x1 left, 0x2 right
+UINT8 ctrldown = 0; // 0x1 left, 0x2 right
+UINT8 altdown = 0; // 0x1 left, 0x2 right
+//
+// D_ModifierKeyResponder
+// Sets global shift/ctrl/alt variables, never actually eats events
+//
+static inline void D_ModifierKeyResponder(event_t *ev)
+{
+	if (ev->type == ev_keydown) switch (ev->data1)
+	{
+		case KEY_LSHIFT: shiftdown |= 0x1; return;
+		case KEY_RSHIFT: shiftdown |= 0x2; return;
+		case KEY_LCTRL: ctrldown |= 0x1; return;
+		case KEY_RCTRL: ctrldown |= 0x2; return;
+		case KEY_LALT: altdown |= 0x1; return;
+		case KEY_RALT: altdown |= 0x2; return;
+		default: return;
+	}
+	else if (ev->type == ev_keyup) switch (ev->data1)
+	{
+		case KEY_LSHIFT: shiftdown &= ~0x1; return;
+		case KEY_RSHIFT: shiftdown &= ~0x2; return;
+		case KEY_LCTRL: ctrldown &= ~0x1; return;
+		case KEY_RCTRL: ctrldown &= ~0x2; return;
+		case KEY_LALT: altdown &= ~0x1; return;
+		case KEY_RALT: altdown &= ~0x2; return;
+		default: return;
+	}
+}
+
 //
 // D_ProcessEvents
 // Send all the events of the given timestamp down the responder chain
@@ -188,6 +221,9 @@ void D_ProcessEvents(void)
 	{
 		ev = &events[eventtail];
 
+		// Set global shift/ctrl/alt down variables
+		D_ModifierKeyResponder(ev); // never eats events
+
 		// Screenshots over everything so that they can be taken anywhere.
 		if (M_ScreenshotResponder(ev))
 			continue; // ate the event
diff --git a/src/doomdef.h b/src/doomdef.h
index fb8ab1ca2..4b2d8c737 100644
--- a/src/doomdef.h
+++ b/src/doomdef.h
@@ -394,6 +394,9 @@ extern INT32 cv_debug;
 // Misc stuff for later...
 // =======================
 
+// Modifier key variables, accessible anywhere
+extern UINT8 shiftdown, ctrldown, altdown;
+
 // if we ever make our alloc stuff...
 #define ZZ_Alloc(x) Z_Malloc(x, PU_STATIC, NULL)
 
diff --git a/src/hu_stuff.c b/src/hu_stuff.c
index ec747305e..e33a54305 100644
--- a/src/hu_stuff.c
+++ b/src/hu_stuff.c
@@ -757,15 +757,8 @@ void HU_clearChatChars(void)
 //
 boolean HU_Responder(event_t *ev)
 {
-	static boolean shiftdown = false;
 	UINT8 c;
 
-	if (ev->data1 == KEY_LSHIFT || ev->data1 == KEY_RSHIFT)
-	{
-		shiftdown = (ev->type == ev_keydown);
-		return chat_on;
-	}
-
 	if (ev->type != ev_keydown)
 		return false;
 
diff --git a/src/m_menu.c b/src/m_menu.c
index 78c381273..d7b4d9080 100644
--- a/src/m_menu.c
+++ b/src/m_menu.c
@@ -182,9 +182,6 @@ static INT32 vidm_selected = 0;
 static INT32 vidm_nummodes;
 static INT32 vidm_column_size;
 
-// what a headache.
-static boolean shiftdown = false;
-
 //
 // PROTOTYPES
 //
@@ -2080,11 +2077,6 @@ boolean M_Responder(event_t *ev)
 	|| gamestate == GS_CREDITS || gamestate == GS_EVALUATION)
 		return false;
 
-	if (ev->type == ev_keyup && (ev->data1 == KEY_LSHIFT || ev->data1 == KEY_RSHIFT))
-	{
-		shiftdown = false;
-		return false;
-	}
 	if (noFurtherInput)
 	{
 		// Ignore input after enter/escape/other buttons
@@ -2098,10 +2090,6 @@ boolean M_Responder(event_t *ev)
 		// added 5-2-98 remap virtual keys (mouse & joystick buttons)
 		switch (ch)
 		{
-			case KEY_LSHIFT:
-			case KEY_RSHIFT:
-				shiftdown = true;
-				break; //return false;
 			case KEY_MOUSE1:
 			case KEY_JOY1:
 			case KEY_JOY1 + 2: