diff --git a/src/rcfile.c b/src/rcfile.c
index b078f03..0a0ee20 100644
--- a/src/rcfile.c
+++ b/src/rcfile.c
@@ -401,7 +401,11 @@ void parse_binding(char *ptr, bool dobind)
     else if (keycopy[0] != '^' && keycopy[0] != 'M' && keycopy[0] != 'F') {
 	rcfile_error(N_("Key name must begin with \"^\", \"M\", or \"F\""));
 	goto free_copy;
-    } else if (keycopy[0] == '^' && (keycopy[1] < 64 || keycopy[1] > 127)) {
+    } else if ((keycopy[0] == '^' && (keycopy[1] < 64 || keycopy[1] > 127))
+		|| (keycopy[0] == '^' && strcmp(keycopy, "^Space") != 0 &&
+		strlen(keycopy) > 2) || (keycopy[0] == 'M' &&
+		keycopy[1] == '-' && strcmp(keycopy, "M-Space") != 0 &&
+		strlen(keycopy) > 3)) {
 	rcfile_error(N_("Key name %s is invalid"), keycopy);
 	goto free_copy;
     }