diff --git a/src/keybind/builtin/helix.json b/src/keybind/builtin/helix.json
index 728d827..331559b 100644
--- a/src/keybind/builtin/helix.json
+++ b/src/keybind/builtin/helix.json
@@ -67,9 +67,9 @@
             ["shift+b", "move_prev_long_word_start"],
             ["shift+e", "move_next_long_word_end"],
 
-            ["shift+i", ["smart_move_begin"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["shift+a", ["move_end"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["shift+o", ["smart_insert_line_before"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["shift+i", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["smart_move_begin"]],
+            ["shift+a", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["move_end"]],
+            ["shift+o", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["smart_insert_line_before"]],
 
             ["shift+c", "copy_selection_on_next_line"],
             ["shift+s", "split_selection"],
@@ -143,11 +143,11 @@
             ["g shift+d", "goto_declaration"],
 
             ["i", "enter_mode", "insert"],
-            ["a", ["move_right"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["o", ["smart_insert_line_after"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["a", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["move_right"]],
+            ["o", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["smart_insert_line_after"]],
 
             ["d", "cut_forward_internal_inclusive"],
-            ["c", ["cut_forward_internal_inclusive"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["c", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_forward_internal_inclusive"]],
 
             ["s", "select_regex"],
             [";", "collapse_selections"],
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@
         "name": "INS",
         "line_numbers": "absolute",
         "cursor": "beam",
+        "init_command": ["pause_undo_history"],
+        "deinit_command": ["resume_undo_history"],
         "press": [
             ["ctrl+u", "move_scroll_page_up"],
             ["ctrl+d", "move_scroll_page_down"],
@@ -276,7 +278,7 @@
             ["alt+`", "switch_to_uppercase"],
 
             ["alt+d", "delete_backward"],
-            ["alt+c", ["delete_backward"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["alt+c", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["delete_backward"]],
 
             ["alt+s", "split_selection_on_newline"],
             ["alt+-", "merge_selections"],
@@ -328,10 +330,10 @@
 
             ["shift+g", "move_buffer_end_or_count_line"],
 
-            ["shift+i", ["smart_move_begin"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["shift+a", ["move_end"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["shift+i", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["smart_move_begin"]],
+            ["shift+a", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["move_end"]],
 
-            ["shift+o", ["smart_insert_line_before"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["shift+o", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["smart_insert_line_before"]],
 
             ["shift+c", "copy_selection_on_next_line"],
 
@@ -415,11 +417,11 @@
             ["g shift+d", "goto_declaration"],
 
             ["i", "enter_mode", "insert"],
-            ["a", ["move_right"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["o", ["smart_insert_line_after"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["a", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["move_right"]],
+            ["o", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["smart_insert_line_after"]],
 
             ["d", "cut"],
-            ["c", ["cut"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["c", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut"]],
 
             ["s", "select_regex"],
             [";", "collapse_selections"],
diff --git a/src/keybind/builtin/vim.json b/src/keybind/builtin/vim.json
index b112d9f..9482da5 100644
--- a/src/keybind/builtin/vim.json
+++ b/src/keybind/builtin/vim.json
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
             ["B", "move_word_left"],
             ["e", "move_word_right_end_vim"],
             ["x", "cut_forward_internal"],
-            ["s", ["cut_forward_internal"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["s", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_forward_internal"]],
             ["u", "undo"],
 
             ["j", "move_down_vim"],
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@
             ["<Space>", "move_right_vim"],
 
             ["i", "enter_mode", "insert"],
-            ["a", ["move_right"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["I", ["smart_move_begin"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["A", ["move_end"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["o", ["smart_insert_line_after"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["O", ["smart_insert_line_before"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["a", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["move_right"]],
+            ["I", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["smart_move_begin"]],
+            ["A", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["move_end"]],
+            ["o", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["smart_insert_line_after"]],
+            ["O", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["smart_insert_line_before"]],
 
             ["<S-.><S-.>", "indent"],
             ["<S-,><S-,>", "unindent"],
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@
             ["dd", "cut_internal_vim"],
             ["\"_dd", "delete_line"],
 
-            ["cc", ["cut_internal_vim"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["C", ["cut_to_end_vim"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["cc", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_internal_vim"]],
+            ["C", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_to_end_vim"]],
             ["D", "cut_to_end_vim"],
-            ["cw", ["cut_word_right_vim"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["cb", ["cut_word_left_vim"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["cw", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_word_right_vim"]],
+            ["cb", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_word_left_vim"]],
 
             ["yy", ["copy_line_internal_vim"], ["cancel"]],
 
@@ -132,10 +132,10 @@
 
             ["x", ["cut_forward_internal"], ["enter_mode", "normal"]],
             ["d", ["cut_forward_internal"], ["enter_mode", "normal"]],
-            ["s", ["cut_forward_internal"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["s", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_forward_internal"]],
 
-            ["c", ["cut_forward_internal"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["C", ["cut_to_end_vim"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["c", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_forward_internal"]],
+            ["C", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_to_end_vim"]],
             ["D", "cut_to_end_vim"]
         ]
     },
@@ -169,10 +169,10 @@
 
             ["x", ["cut_internal_vim"], ["enter_mode", "normal"]],
             ["d", ["cut_internal_vim"], ["enter_mode", "normal"]],
-            ["s", ["cut_internal_vim"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["s", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_internal_vim"]],
 
-            ["c", ["cut_internal_vim"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
-            ["C", ["cut_to_end_vim"], ["enter_mode", "insert"]],
+            ["c", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_internal_vim"]],
+            ["C", ["enter_mode", "insert"], ["cut_to_end_vim"]],
             ["D", "cut_to_end_vim"]
         ]
     },
@@ -181,6 +181,8 @@
         "name": "INSERT",
         "line_numbers": "absolute",
         "cursor": "beam",
+        "init_command": ["pause_undo_history"],
+        "deinit_command": ["resume_undo_history"],
         "press": [
             ["<Esc>", ["move_left_vim"], ["enter_mode", "normal"]],
             ["<Del>", "delete_forward"],
diff --git a/src/keybind/keybind.zig b/src/keybind/keybind.zig
index 2a8953a..5394792 100644
--- a/src/keybind/keybind.zig
+++ b/src/keybind/keybind.zig
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ const Handler = struct {
             .line_numbers = self.bindings.line_numbers,
             .cursor_shape = self.bindings.cursor_shape,
             .selection_style = self.bindings.selection_style,
+            .init_command = self.bindings.init_command,
+            .deinit_command = self.bindings.deinit_command,
         };
     }
     pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
@@ -82,8 +84,12 @@ pub const Mode = struct {
     keybind_hints: *const KeybindHints,
     cursor_shape: ?CursorShape = null,
     selection_style: SelectionStyle,
+    init_command: ?Command = null,
+    deinit_command: ?Command = null,
 
     pub fn deinit(self: *Mode) void {
+        if (self.deinit_command) |deinit_|
+            deinit_.execute_const();
         self.allocator.free(self.mode);
         self.input_handler.deinit();
         if (self.event_handler) |eh| eh.deinit();
@@ -139,18 +145,10 @@ pub fn set_namespace(namespace_name: []const u8) LoadError!void {
     const new_namespace = try get_or_load_namespace(namespace_name);
     if (globals.current_namespace) |old_namespace|
         if (old_namespace.deinit_command) |deinit|
-            deinit.execute_const() catch |e| {
-                const logger = log.logger("keybind");
-                logger.print_err("deinit_command", "ERROR: {s} {s}", .{ deinit.command, @errorName(e) });
-                logger.deinit();
-            };
+            deinit.execute_const();
     globals.current_namespace = new_namespace;
     if (new_namespace.init_command) |init|
-        init.execute_const() catch |e| {
-            const logger = log.logger("keybind");
-            logger.print_err("init_command", "ERROR: {s} {s}", .{ init.command, @errorName(e) });
-            logger.deinit();
-        };
+        init.execute_const();
 }
 
 fn get_mode_binding_set(mode_name: []const u8, insert_command: []const u8) LoadError!*const BindingSet {
@@ -267,10 +265,14 @@ const Command = struct {
         try command.execute(id, .{ .args = .{ .buf = buf[0..self.args.len] } });
     }
 
-    fn execute_const(self: *const @This()) !void {
+    pub fn execute_const(self: *const @This()) void {
         var buf: [2048]u8 = undefined;
         @memcpy(buf[0..self.args.len], self.args);
-        try command.executeName(self.command, .{ .args = .{ .buf = buf[0..self.args.len] } });
+        command.executeName(self.command, .{ .args = .{ .buf = buf[0..self.args.len] } }) catch |e| {
+            const logger = log.logger("keybind");
+            logger.print_err("init/deinit_command", "ERROR: {s} {s}", .{ self.command, @errorName(e) });
+            logger.deinit();
+        };
     }
 
     fn load(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, tokens: []const std.json.Value) (parse_flow.ParseError || parse_vim.ParseError)!Command {
@@ -373,6 +375,8 @@ const BindingSet = struct {
     selection_style: SelectionStyle,
     insert_command: []const u8 = "",
     hints_map: KeybindHints = .{},
+    init_command: ?Command = null,
+    deinit_command: ?Command = null,
 
     const KeySyntax = enum { flow, vim };
     const OnMatchFailure = enum { insert, ignore };
@@ -391,6 +395,8 @@ const BindingSet = struct {
             inherit: ?[]const u8 = null,
             inherits: ?[][]const u8 = null,
             selection: ?SelectionStyle = null,
+            init_command: ?[]const std.json.Value = null,
+            deinit_command: ?[]const std.json.Value = null,
         };
         const parsed = try std.json.parseFromValue(JsonConfig, allocator, mode_bindings, .{
             .ignore_unknown_fields = true,
@@ -402,6 +408,8 @@ const BindingSet = struct {
         self.line_numbers = parsed.value.line_numbers;
         self.cursor_shape = parsed.value.cursor;
         self.selection_style = parsed.value.selection orelse .normal;
+        if (parsed.value.init_command) |cmd| self.init_command = try Command.load(allocator, cmd);
+        if (parsed.value.deinit_command) |cmd| self.deinit_command = try Command.load(allocator, cmd);
         try self.load_event(allocator, &self.press, input.event.press, parsed.value.press);
         try self.load_event(allocator, &self.release, input.event.release, parsed.value.release);
         if (parsed.value.inherits) |sibling_fallbacks| {
diff --git a/src/tui/editor.zig b/src/tui/editor.zig
index ada0f81..93ee94e 100644
--- a/src/tui/editor.zig
+++ b/src/tui/editor.zig
@@ -269,6 +269,7 @@ pub const Editor = struct {
     buffer_manager: *Buffer.Manager,
     lsp_version: usize = 1,
     pause_undo: bool = false,
+    pause_undo_root: ?Buffer.Root = null,
 
     cursels: CurSel.List,
     cursels_saved: CurSel.List,
@@ -780,11 +781,23 @@ pub const Editor = struct {
 
     pub fn pause_undo_history(self: *Self, _: Context) Result {
         self.pause_undo = true;
+        self.pause_undo_root = self.buf_root() catch return;
+        self.cursels_saved.clearAndFree();
+        self.cursels_saved = try self.cursels.clone();
     }
     pub const pause_undo_history_meta: Meta = .{ .description = "Pause undo history" };
 
     pub fn resume_undo_history(self: *Self, _: Context) Result {
         self.pause_undo = false;
+        const b = self.buffer orelse return;
+        var sfa = std.heap.stackFallback(512, self.allocator);
+        const allocator = sfa.get();
+        const meta = try self.store_undo_meta(allocator);
+        defer allocator.free(meta);
+        const root = self.buf_root() catch return;
+        if (self.pause_undo_root) |paused_root| b.update(paused_root);
+        try b.store_undo(meta);
+        b.update(root);
     }
     pub const resume_undo_history_meta: Meta = .{ .description = "Resume undo history" };
 
diff --git a/src/tui/tui.zig b/src/tui/tui.zig
index 9339dd1..206b970 100644
--- a/src/tui/tui.zig
+++ b/src/tui/tui.zig
@@ -673,6 +673,8 @@ fn enter_input_mode(self: *Self, new_mode: Mode) command.Result {
         self.input_mode_ = null;
     }
     self.input_mode_ = new_mode;
+    if (new_mode.init_command) |cmd|
+        cmd.execute_const();
 }
 
 fn refresh_input_mode(self: *Self) command.Result {