diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/hints.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/hints.pyj
index 366ace09af..b583950722 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/hints.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/hints.pyj
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 # License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2020, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
 from __python__ import bound_methods, hash_literals
+from read_book.shortcuts import shortcut_for_key_event
 
 
 class Hints:
@@ -44,11 +45,38 @@ class Hints:
 
     def on_keydown(self, ev):
         ev.preventDefault(), ev.stopPropagation()
+        if ev.key is 'Escape':
+            self.hide()
+            return
+        if ev.key is 'Backspace':
+            if self.current_prefix:
+                self.current_prefix = self.current_prefix[:-1]
+                self.apply_prefix()
+            return
+        hint_keys = list('01234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz')
+        q = ev.key.toLowerCase()
+        if hint_keys.indexOf(q) > -1:
+            self.current_prefix += q
+            self.apply_prefix()
+
+        sc_name = shortcut_for_key_event(ev, self.view.keyboard_shortcut_map)
+        if not sc_name:
+            return
 
     def container_clicked(self, ev):
         ev.stopPropagation(), ev.preventDefault()
         self.hide()
 
+    def apply_prefix(self):
+        matches = v'[]'
+        if self.current_prefix:
+            for k in Object.keys(self.hints_map):
+                if k.startswith(self.current_prefix):
+                    matches.push(k)
+        if matches.length is 1:
+            self.send_message('activate', hint=self.hints_map[matches[0]])
+            self.hide()
+
     def send_message(self, type, **kw):
         self.view.iframe_wrapper.send_message('hints', type=type, **kw)
 
@@ -72,15 +100,15 @@ def hint_visible_links(link_attr):
         if is_visible(a):
             i += 1
             h = i + ''
-            a.setAttribute('calibre-hint-render', i.toString(36))
-            a.setAttribute('calibre-hint-value', h)
-            hint_map[h] = {'type': 'link', 'data':a.getAttribute(link_attr)}
+            a.dataset.calibreHintRender = i.toString(36)
+            a.dataset.calibreHintValue = h
             a.classList.add('calibre-hint-visible')
+            hint_map[h] = {'type': 'link', 'data':JSON.parse(a.getAttribute(link_attr)), 'value': i}
     return hint_map
 
 
 def unhint_links(link_attr):
     for a in document.body.querySelectorAll(f'a[{link_attr}]'):
         a.classList.remove('calibre-hint-visible')
-        a.removeAttribute('calibre-hint-render')
-        a.removeAttribute('calibre-hint-value')
+        v'delete a.dataset.calibreHintRender'
+        v'delete a.dataset.calibreHintValue'
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/iframe.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/iframe.pyj
index bd4cb51710..379161f2bd 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/iframe.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/iframe.pyj
@@ -677,17 +677,19 @@ class IframeBoss:
         except:
             print('WARNING: Failed to parse link data {}, ignoring'.format(evt.currentTarget?.getAttribute?(self.link_attr)))
             return
-        name, frag = data.name, data.frag
+        self.activate_link(data.name, data.frag, evt.currentTarget)
+
+    def activate_link(self, name, frag, target_elem):
         if not name:
             name = current_spine_item().name
         try:
-            is_popup = is_footnote_link(evt.currentTarget, name, frag, current_spine_item().name, self.book.manifest.link_to_map or {})
+            is_popup = is_footnote_link(target_elem, name, frag, current_spine_item().name, self.book.manifest.link_to_map or {})
         except:
             import traceback
             traceback.print_exc()
             is_popup = False
         if is_popup:
-            self.send_message('show_footnote', name=name, frag=frag, title=evt.currentTarget.textContent, cols_per_screen=calc_columns_per_screen())
+            self.send_message('show_footnote', name=name, frag=frag, title=target_elem.textContent, cols_per_screen=calc_columns_per_screen())
             return
         if name is current_spine_item().name:
             self.replace_history_on_next_cfi_update = False
@@ -927,6 +929,11 @@ class IframeBoss:
             self.send_message('hints', type='shown', hints_map=hints_map)
         elif data.type is 'hide':
             unhint_links(self.link_attr)
+        elif data.type is 'activate':
+            hint = data.hint
+            if hint.type is 'link':
+                a = document.body.querySelector(f'[data-calibre-hint-value="{hint.value}"]')
+                self.activate_link(hint.data.name, hint.data.frag, a)
 
 
 def main():
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/settings.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/settings.pyj
index bb11040ebd..6a2fe7f443 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/settings.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/settings.pyj
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def apply_colors(is_content_popup):
     # follow links hint box
     text += f'''\n\n
         .calibre-hint-visible::before {{
-            content: attr(calibre-hint-render);\
+            content: attr(data-calibre-hint-render);\
             text-decoration: none !important;\
             font-weight: bold !important;\
             color: {selfg} !important;\