diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
index e9960b3938..c4e99ce1fd 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
@@ -1055,6 +1055,8 @@ class Editor : public PublicEditor, public PBD::ScopedConnectionList, public ARD
 	bool motion_handler (ArdourCanvas::Item*, GdkEvent*, bool from_autoscroll = false);
 	bool enter_handler (ArdourCanvas::Item*, GdkEvent*, ItemType);
 	bool leave_handler (ArdourCanvas::Item*, GdkEvent*, ItemType);
+	bool key_press_handler (ArdourCanvas::Item*, GdkEvent*, ItemType);
+	bool key_release_handler (ArdourCanvas::Item*, GdkEvent*, ItemType);
 
 	Gtkmm2ext::Bindings* button_bindings;
 	XMLNode* button_settings () const;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
index 5dbc94a897..014c925f7d 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
@@ -212,6 +212,14 @@ Editor::typed_event (ArdourCanvas::Item* item, GdkEvent *event, ItemType type)
 		ret = leave_handler (item, event, type);
 		break;
 
+	case GDK_KEY_PRESS:
+		ret = key_press_handler (item, event, type);
+		break;
+
+	case GDK_KEY_RELEASE:
+		ret = key_release_handler (item, event, type);
+		break;
+
 	default:
 		break;
 	}
@@ -1074,3 +1082,45 @@ Editor::track_canvas_drag_motion (Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::DragContext> const & /*c*/,
 
 	return true;
 }
+
+bool
+Editor::key_press_handler (ArdourCanvas::Item* item, GdkEvent* event, ItemType type)
+{
+	return false;
+}
+
+bool
+Editor::key_release_handler (ArdourCanvas::Item* item, GdkEvent* event, ItemType type)
+{
+
+	bool handled = false;
+
+	switch (type) {
+	case TempoMarkerItem:
+		switch (event->key.keyval) {
+		case GDK_Delete:
+			remove_tempo_marker (item);
+			handled = true;
+			break;
+		default:
+			break;
+		}
+		break;
+
+	case MeterMarkerItem:
+		switch (event->key.keyval) {
+		case GDK_Delete:
+			remove_meter_marker (item);
+			handled = true;
+			break;
+		default:
+			break;
+		}
+		break;
+
+	default:
+		break;
+	}
+
+	return handled;
+}