diff --git a/src/nano.h b/src/nano.h
index 4fd186a1..e4ffa990 100644
--- a/src/nano.h
+++ b/src/nano.h
@@ -239,6 +239,8 @@ typedef struct syntaxtype {
 		/* The colors and their regexes used in this syntax. */
 	int nmultis;
 		/* How many multiline regex strings this syntax has. */
+	struct sc *sclist;
+		/* List of language-specific shortcuts */
 	struct syntaxtype *next;
 		/* Next syntax. */
 } syntaxtype;
diff --git a/src/rcfile.c b/src/rcfile.c
index 2e7c2ab6..4b456573 100644
--- a/src/rcfile.c
+++ b/src/rcfile.c
@@ -308,6 +308,7 @@ void parse_syntax(char *ptr)
 	live_syntax->color = NULL;
 	lastcolor = NULL;
 	live_syntax->nmultis = 0;
+	live_syntax->sclist = NULL;
 
 	/* Hook the new syntax in at the top of the list. */
 	live_syntax->next = syntaxes;
@@ -345,7 +346,7 @@ bool is_universal(void (*func)(void))
 }
 
 /* Bind or unbind a key combo, to or from a function. */
-void parse_binding(char *ptr, bool dobind)
+void parse_binding(char *ptr, bool dobind, sc **list)
 {
 	char *keyptr = NULL, *keycopy = NULL, *funcptr = NULL, *menuptr = NULL;
 	sc *s, *newsc = NULL;
@@ -422,8 +423,12 @@ void parse_binding(char *ptr, bool dobind)
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
 			newsc->toggle = 0;
 #endif
-		} else
+		} else if (!opensyntax)
 		    newsc = strtosc(funcptr);
+		else {
+			rcfile_error(N_("Mapping \"%s\" is not allowed for syntax-specific"), funcptr);
+			goto free_things;
+		}
 
 		if (newsc == NULL) {
 			rcfile_error(N_("Cannot map name \"%s\" to a function"), funcptr);
@@ -475,8 +480,9 @@ void parse_binding(char *ptr, bool dobind)
 	}
 
 	/* Now find and delete any existing same shortcut in the menu(s). */
-	for (s = sclist; s != NULL; s = s->next) {
-		if ((s->menus & menu) && !strcmp(s->keystr, keycopy))
+	for (s = *list; s != NULL; s = s->next) {
+		if ((s->menus & menu) && !strcmp(s->keystr, keycopy) && 
+		!opensyntax )
 			s->menus &= ~menu;
 	}
 
@@ -484,15 +490,15 @@ void parse_binding(char *ptr, bool dobind)
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
 		/* If this is a toggle, copy its sequence number. */
 		if (newsc->func == do_toggle_void) {
-			for (s = sclist; s != NULL; s = s->next)
+			for (s = *list; s != NULL; s = s->next)
 				if (s->func == do_toggle_void && s->toggle == newsc->toggle)
 					newsc->ordinal = s->ordinal;
 		} else
 			newsc->ordinal = 0;
 #endif
 		/* Add the new shortcut at the start of the list. */
-		newsc->next = sclist;
-		sclist = newsc;
+		newsc->next = *list;
+		*list = newsc;
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -997,6 +1003,8 @@ void parse_rcfile(FILE *rcstream, bool syntax_only)
 			parse_colors(ptr, NANO_REG_EXTENDED | REG_ICASE);
 		else if (strcasecmp(keyword, "linter") == 0)
 			pick_up_name("linter", ptr, &live_syntax->linter);
+		else if (strcasecmp(keyword, "bind") == 0)
+			parse_binding(ptr, TRUE, &(live_syntax->sclist));
 		else if (strcasecmp(keyword, "formatter") == 0)
 #ifdef ENABLE_SPELLER
 			pick_up_name("formatter", ptr, &live_syntax->formatter);
@@ -1015,9 +1023,9 @@ void parse_rcfile(FILE *rcstream, bool syntax_only)
 		else if (strcasecmp(keyword, "unset") == 0)
 			set = -1;
 		else if (strcasecmp(keyword, "bind") == 0)
-			parse_binding(ptr, TRUE);
+			parse_binding(ptr, TRUE, &sclist);
 		else if (strcasecmp(keyword, "unbind") == 0)
-			parse_binding(ptr, FALSE);
+			parse_binding(ptr, FALSE, &sclist);
 		else
 			rcfile_error(N_("Command \"%s\" not understood"), keyword);
 
diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index 2b4a3281..fd4f452f 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -1722,6 +1722,24 @@ int get_mouseinput(int *mouse_y, int *mouse_x, bool allow_shortcuts)
 }
 #endif /* ENABLE_MOUSE */
 
+sc *get_shortcut_in_list(int *kbinput, sc *sclist)
+{
+	sc *s;
+	for (s = sclist; s != NULL; s = s->next) {
+		if ((s->menus & currmenu) && *kbinput == s->keycode &&
+										meta_key == s->meta) {
+#ifdef DEBUG
+			fprintf (stderr, "matched seq '%s'  (menu is %x from %x)\n",
+								s->keystr, currmenu, s->menus);
+#endif
+			return s;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
 /* Return the shortcut that corresponds to the values of kbinput (the
  * key itself) and meta_key (whether the key is a meta sequence).  The
  * returned shortcut will be the first in the list that corresponds to
@@ -1739,21 +1757,14 @@ const sc *get_shortcut(int *kbinput)
 	if (!meta_key && (*kbinput & 0x7F) >= 0x20 && *kbinput <= 0xFF)
 		return NULL;
 
-	for (s = sclist; s != NULL; s = s->next) {
-		if ((s->menus & currmenu) && *kbinput == s->keycode &&
-										meta_key == s->meta) {
-#ifdef DEBUG
-			fprintf (stderr, "matched seq '%s'  (menu is %x from %x)\n",
-								s->keystr, currmenu, s->menus);
-#endif
-			return s;
-		}
-	}
+	s = get_shortcut_in_list(kbinput, openfile->syntax->sclist);
+	if (s == NULL)
+		s = get_shortcut_in_list(kbinput, sclist);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
-	fprintf (stderr, "matched nothing\n");
+	if (s == NULL) fprintf (stderr, "matched nothing\n");
 #endif
-	return NULL;
+	return s;
 }
 
 /* Move to (x, y) in win, and display a line of n spaces with the