diff --git a/src/profanity.c b/src/profanity.c
index f841f158..9fccd4eb 100644
--- a/src/profanity.c
+++ b/src/profanity.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <glib.h>
+#include <glib-unix.h>
 
 #include "profanity.h"
 #include "common.h"
@@ -182,6 +183,16 @@ sigterm_handler(int sig)
     force_quit = TRUE;
 }
 
+// Universal "I'm stuck in the editor" escape hatch. Dispatched in the main
+// loop by GLib (g_unix_signal_add), so it is safe to call into editor.c
+// directly. Trigger from another terminal: `pkill -USR1 profanity`.
+static gboolean
+_emergency_resume_handler(gpointer data)
+{
+    editor_emergency_kill();
+    return G_SOURCE_CONTINUE;
+}
+
 static void
 _init(char* log_level, char* config_file, char* log_file, char* theme_name)
 {
@@ -193,6 +204,7 @@ _init(char* log_level, char* config_file, char* log_file, char* theme_name)
     signal(SIGWINCH, ui_sigwinch_handler);
     signal(SIGTERM, sigterm_handler);
     signal(SIGHUP, sigterm_handler);
+    g_unix_signal_add(SIGUSR1, _emergency_resume_handler, NULL);
     if (pthread_mutex_init(&lock, NULL) != 0) {
         log_error("Mutex init failed");
         exit(1);
diff --git a/src/tools/editor.c b/src/tools/editor.c
index dc3bdeb8..7c58bddf 100644
--- a/src/tools/editor.c
+++ b/src/tools/editor.c
@@ -40,11 +40,13 @@ typedef struct EditorContext
 // editor that fights the first one for the terminal, then prematurely
 // ui_resume when either exits.
 static gboolean editor_active = FALSE;
+static pid_t editor_pid = 0;
 
 static void
 _editor_exit_cb(GPid pid, gint status, gpointer data)
 {
     editor_active = FALSE;
+    editor_pid = 0;
 
     EditorContext* ctx = data;
     gchar* contents = NULL;
@@ -157,9 +159,11 @@ launch_editor(gchar* initial_content, void (*callback)(gchar* content, void* dat
     } else if (pid == 0) {
         // Child process: Inherits TTY from parent
 
-        // Reset signal handlers that profanity sets so the editor doesn't inherit them
+        // SIGTSTP intentionally NOT reset: keeping SIG_IGN inherited via
+        // fork+exec avoids hanging on a STOPPED editor (g_child_watch lacks
+        // WUNTRACED). Cost: vim's :stop is a no-op in /editor. See
+        // editor_emergency_kill for other hung-editor scenarios.
         signal(SIGINT, SIG_DFL);
-        signal(SIGTSTP, SIG_DFL);
         signal(SIGPIPE, SIG_DFL);
 
         if (editor_argv && editor_argv[0]) {
@@ -169,7 +173,20 @@ launch_editor(gchar* initial_content, void (*callback)(gchar* content, void* dat
     }
 
     // Parent process: Watch the child asynchronously
+    editor_pid = pid;
     g_child_watch_add((GPid)pid, _editor_exit_cb, ctx);
     g_strfreev(editor_argv);
     return FALSE;
 }
+
+void
+editor_emergency_kill(void)
+{
+    if (!editor_active || editor_pid <= 0) {
+        return;
+    }
+    log_warning("[Editor] emergency resume: sending SIGTERM to editor pid %d", editor_pid);
+    kill(editor_pid, SIGTERM);
+    // g_child_watch dispatches _editor_exit_cb when the child exits, which
+    // already restores the UI — no further action required here.
+}
diff --git a/src/tools/editor.h b/src/tools/editor.h
index a6ef0cef..74d05087 100644
--- a/src/tools/editor.h
+++ b/src/tools/editor.h
@@ -16,4 +16,9 @@
 
 gboolean launch_editor(gchar* initial_content, void (*callback)(gchar* content, void* data), void* user_data);
 
+// Universal escape hatch: if an editor session is active, send SIGTERM to the
+// child. The existing g_child_watch fires _editor_exit_cb on exit, which
+// already restores the UI. Wired to SIGUSR1 in profanity.c.
+void editor_emergency_kill(void);
+
 #endif