diff --git a/lib/readline.js b/lib/readline.js
index 2cdd2cf392c71f..35fab29965ee4e 100644
--- a/lib/readline.js
+++ b/lib/readline.js
@@ -861,15 +861,15 @@ Interface.prototype._ttyWrite = function(s, key) {
         this._historyNext();
         break;
 
-      default:
-        if (key.name === 'tab') {
-          // If tab completion enabled, do that...
-          if (typeof this.completer === 'function') {
-            this._tabComplete();
-            break;
-          }
+      case 'tab':
+        // If tab completion enabled, do that...
+        if (typeof this.completer === 'function') {
+          this._tabComplete();
+          break;
         }
+        // falls through
 
+      default:
         if (s instanceof Buffer)
           s = s.toString('utf-8');