diff --git a/tools/ges-launcher-kb.c b/tools/ges-launcher-kb.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ffaafde777
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ges-launcher-kb.c
@@ -0,0 +1,293 @@
+/* GStreamer command line playback testing utility - keyboard handling helpers
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Tim-Philipp Müller <tim centricular net>
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Centricular Ltd
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Library General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Library General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Library General Public
+ * License along with this library; if not, write to the
+ * Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor,
+ * Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
+ */
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
+
+#include "ges-launcher-kb.h"
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#ifdef G_OS_UNIX
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <termios.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef G_OS_WIN32
+#include <windows.h>
+#include <io.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <gst/gst.h>
+
+/* This is all not thread-safe, but doesn't have to be really */
+static GstPlayKbFunc kb_callback;
+static gpointer kb_callback_data;
+
+#ifdef G_OS_UNIX
+static struct termios term_settings;
+static gboolean term_settings_saved = FALSE;
+static gulong io_watch_id;
+
+static gboolean
+gst_play_kb_io_cb (GIOChannel * ioc, GIOCondition cond, gpointer user_data)
+{
+  GIOStatus status;
+
+  if (cond & G_IO_IN) {
+    gchar buf[16] = { 0, };
+    gsize read;
+
+    status = g_io_channel_read_chars (ioc, buf, sizeof (buf) - 1, &read, NULL);
+    if (status == G_IO_STATUS_ERROR)
+      return FALSE;
+    if (status == G_IO_STATUS_NORMAL) {
+      if (kb_callback)
+        kb_callback (buf, kb_callback_data);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return TRUE;                  /* call us again */
+}
+
+gboolean
+gst_play_kb_set_key_handler (GstPlayKbFunc kb_func, gpointer user_data)
+{
+  GIOChannel *ioc;
+
+  if (!isatty (STDIN_FILENO)) {
+    GST_INFO ("stdin is not connected to a terminal");
+    return FALSE;
+  }
+
+  if (io_watch_id > 0) {
+    g_source_remove (io_watch_id);
+    io_watch_id = 0;
+  }
+
+  if (kb_func == NULL && term_settings_saved) {
+    /* restore terminal settings */
+    if (tcsetattr (STDIN_FILENO, TCSAFLUSH, &term_settings) == 0)
+      term_settings_saved = FALSE;
+    else
+      g_warning ("could not restore terminal attributes");
+
+    setvbuf (stdin, NULL, _IOLBF, 0);
+  }
+
+  if (kb_func != NULL) {
+    struct termios new_settings;
+
+    if (!term_settings_saved) {
+      if (tcgetattr (STDIN_FILENO, &term_settings) != 0) {
+        g_warning ("could not save terminal attributes");
+        return FALSE;
+      }
+      term_settings_saved = TRUE;
+
+      /* Echo off, canonical mode off, extended input processing off  */
+      new_settings = term_settings;
+      new_settings.c_lflag &= ~(ECHO | ICANON | IEXTEN);
+      new_settings.c_cc[VMIN] = 0;
+      new_settings.c_cc[VTIME] = 0;
+
+      if (tcsetattr (STDIN_FILENO, TCSAFLUSH, &new_settings) != 0) {
+        g_warning ("Could not set terminal state");
+        return FALSE;
+      }
+      setvbuf (stdin, NULL, _IONBF, 0);
+    }
+  }
+
+  ioc = g_io_channel_unix_new (STDIN_FILENO);
+
+  io_watch_id = g_io_add_watch_full (ioc, G_PRIORITY_DEFAULT, G_IO_IN,
+      (GIOFunc) gst_play_kb_io_cb, user_data, NULL);
+  g_io_channel_unref (ioc);
+
+  kb_callback = kb_func;
+  kb_callback_data = user_data;
+
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+#elif defined(G_OS_WIN32)
+
+typedef struct
+{
+  GThread *thread;
+  HANDLE event_handle;
+  HANDLE console_handle;
+  gboolean closing;
+  GMutex lock;
+} Win32KeyHandler;
+
+static Win32KeyHandler *win32_handler = NULL;
+
+static gboolean
+gst_play_kb_source_cb (Win32KeyHandler * handler)
+{
+  HANDLE h_input = handler->console_handle;
+  INPUT_RECORD buffer;
+  DWORD n;
+
+  if (PeekConsoleInput (h_input, &buffer, 1, &n) && n == 1) {
+    ReadConsoleInput (h_input, &buffer, 1, &n);
+
+    if (buffer.EventType == KEY_EVENT && buffer.Event.KeyEvent.bKeyDown) {
+      gchar key_val[2] = { 0 };
+
+      switch (buffer.Event.KeyEvent.wVirtualKeyCode) {
+        case VK_RIGHT:
+          kb_callback (GST_PLAY_KB_ARROW_RIGHT, kb_callback_data);
+          break;
+        case VK_LEFT:
+          kb_callback (GST_PLAY_KB_ARROW_LEFT, kb_callback_data);
+          break;
+        case VK_UP:
+          kb_callback (GST_PLAY_KB_ARROW_UP, kb_callback_data);
+          break;
+        case VK_DOWN:
+          kb_callback (GST_PLAY_KB_ARROW_DOWN, kb_callback_data);
+          break;
+        default:
+          key_val[0] = buffer.Event.KeyEvent.uChar.AsciiChar;
+          kb_callback (key_val, kb_callback_data);
+          break;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return G_SOURCE_REMOVE;
+}
+
+static gpointer
+gst_play_kb_win32_thread (gpointer user_data)
+{
+  Win32KeyHandler *handler = (Win32KeyHandler *) user_data;
+  HANDLE handles[2];
+
+  handles[0] = handler->event_handle;
+  handles[1] = handler->console_handle;
+
+  if (!kb_callback)
+    return NULL;
+
+  while (TRUE) {
+    DWORD ret = WaitForMultipleObjects (2, handles, FALSE, INFINITE);
+
+    if (ret == WAIT_FAILED) {
+      GST_WARNING ("WaitForMultipleObject Failed");
+      return NULL;
+    }
+
+    g_mutex_lock (&handler->lock);
+    if (handler->closing) {
+      g_mutex_unlock (&handler->lock);
+
+      return NULL;
+    }
+    g_mutex_unlock (&handler->lock);
+
+    g_idle_add ((GSourceFunc) gst_play_kb_source_cb, handler);
+  }
+
+  return NULL;
+}
+
+gboolean
+gst_play_kb_set_key_handler (GstPlayKbFunc kb_func, gpointer user_data)
+{
+  gint fd = _fileno (stdin);
+
+  if (!_isatty (fd)) {
+    GST_INFO ("stdin is not connected to a terminal");
+    return FALSE;
+  }
+
+  if (win32_handler) {
+    g_mutex_lock (&win32_handler->lock);
+    win32_handler->closing = TRUE;
+    g_mutex_unlock (&win32_handler->lock);
+
+    SetEvent (win32_handler->event_handle);
+    g_thread_join (win32_handler->thread);
+    CloseHandle (win32_handler->event_handle);
+
+    g_mutex_clear (&win32_handler->lock);
+    g_free (win32_handler);
+    win32_handler = NULL;
+  }
+
+  if (kb_func) {
+    SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES sec_attrs;
+
+    sec_attrs.nLength = sizeof (SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES);
+    sec_attrs.lpSecurityDescriptor = NULL;
+    sec_attrs.bInheritHandle = FALSE;
+
+    win32_handler = g_new0 (Win32KeyHandler, 1);
+
+    /* create cancellable event handle */
+    win32_handler->event_handle = CreateEvent (&sec_attrs, TRUE, FALSE, NULL);
+
+    if (!win32_handler->event_handle) {
+      GST_WARNING ("Couldn't create event handle");
+      g_free (win32_handler);
+      win32_handler = NULL;
+
+      return FALSE;
+    }
+
+    win32_handler->console_handle = GetStdHandle (STD_INPUT_HANDLE);
+    if (!win32_handler->console_handle) {
+      GST_WARNING ("Couldn't get console handle");
+      CloseHandle (win32_handler->event_handle);
+      g_free (win32_handler);
+      win32_handler = NULL;
+
+      return FALSE;
+    }
+
+    g_mutex_init (&win32_handler->lock);
+    win32_handler->thread =
+        g_thread_new ("gst-play-kb", gst_play_kb_win32_thread, win32_handler);
+  }
+
+  kb_callback = kb_func;
+  kb_callback_data = user_data;
+
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+#else
+
+gboolean
+gst_play_kb_set_key_handler (GstPlayKbFunc key_func, gpointer user_data)
+{
+  GST_FIXME ("Keyboard handling for this OS needs to be implemented");
+  return FALSE;
+}
+
+#endif /* !G_OS_UNIX */
diff --git a/tools/ges-launcher-kb.h b/tools/ges-launcher-kb.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7dab0edd77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ges-launcher-kb.h
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/* GStreamer command line playback testing utility - keyboard handling helpers
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Tim-Philipp Müller <tim centricular net>
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Centricular Ltd
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Library General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Library General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Library General Public
+ * License along with this library; if not, write to the
+ * Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor,
+ * Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
+ */
+#ifndef __GST_PLAY_KB_INCLUDED__
+#define __GST_PLAY_KB_INCLUDED__
+
+#include <glib.h>
+
+#define GST_PLAY_KB_ARROW_UP    "\033[A"
+#define GST_PLAY_KB_ARROW_DOWN  "\033[B"
+#define GST_PLAY_KB_ARROW_RIGHT "\033[C"
+#define GST_PLAY_KB_ARROW_LEFT  "\033[D"
+
+typedef void (*GstPlayKbFunc) (const gchar * kb_input, gpointer user_data);
+
+gboolean gst_play_kb_set_key_handler (GstPlayKbFunc kb_func, gpointer user_data);
+
+#endif /* __GST_PLAY_KB_INCLUDED__ */
diff --git a/tools/ges-launcher.c b/tools/ges-launcher.c
index 92bc5b05db..2549c9dab9 100644
--- a/tools/ges-launcher.c
+++ b/tools/ges-launcher.c
@@ -31,6 +31,18 @@
 #include "ges-launcher.h"
 #include "ges-validate.h"
 #include "utils.h"
+#include "ges-launcher-kb.h"
+
+typedef enum
+{
+  GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_NONE = 0,
+  GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_DEFAULT,
+  GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_DEFAULT_NO_AUDIO,
+  GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_KEY_UNITS,
+  GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_KEY_UNITS_NO_AUDIO,
+  GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_INSTANT_RATE,
+  GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_LAST
+} GstPlayTrickMode;
 
 struct _GESLauncherPrivate
 {
@@ -41,6 +53,11 @@ struct _GESLauncherPrivate
   guint signal_watch_id;
 #endif
   GESLauncherParsedOptions parsed_options;
+
+  GstPlayTrickMode trick_mode;
+  gdouble rate;
+
+  GstState desired_state;       /* as per user interaction, PAUSED or PLAYING */
 };
 
 G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (GESLauncher, ges_launcher, G_TYPE_APPLICATION);
@@ -56,6 +73,240 @@ static const gchar *HELP_SUMMARY =
     "  `ges-launch-1.0 --inspect-action-type` for the available commands.\n\n"
     "  By default, ges-launch-1.0 is in \"playback-mode\".";
 
+static gboolean
+play_do_seek (GESLauncher * self, gint64 pos, gdouble rate,
+    GstPlayTrickMode mode)
+{
+  GstSeekFlags seek_flags;
+  GstEvent *seek;
+
+  seek_flags = 0;
+
+  switch (mode) {
+    case GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_DEFAULT:
+      seek_flags |= GST_SEEK_FLAG_TRICKMODE;
+      break;
+    case GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_DEFAULT_NO_AUDIO:
+      seek_flags |= GST_SEEK_FLAG_TRICKMODE | GST_SEEK_FLAG_TRICKMODE_NO_AUDIO;
+      break;
+    case GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_KEY_UNITS:
+      seek_flags |= GST_SEEK_FLAG_TRICKMODE_KEY_UNITS;
+      break;
+    case GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_KEY_UNITS_NO_AUDIO:
+      seek_flags |=
+          GST_SEEK_FLAG_TRICKMODE_KEY_UNITS | GST_SEEK_FLAG_TRICKMODE_NO_AUDIO;
+      break;
+    case GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_NONE:
+    default:
+      break;
+  }
+
+  /* See if we can do an instant rate change (not changing dir) */
+  if (mode & GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_INSTANT_RATE && rate * self->priv->rate > 0) {
+    seek = gst_event_new_seek (rate, GST_FORMAT_TIME,
+        seek_flags | GST_SEEK_FLAG_INSTANT_RATE_CHANGE,
+        GST_SEEK_TYPE_NONE, GST_CLOCK_TIME_NONE,
+        GST_SEEK_TYPE_NONE, GST_CLOCK_TIME_NONE);
+    if (gst_element_send_event (GST_ELEMENT (self->priv->pipeline), seek)) {
+      goto done;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /* No instant rate change, need to do a flushing seek */
+  seek_flags |= GST_SEEK_FLAG_FLUSH;
+  if (rate >= 0)
+    seek = gst_event_new_seek (rate, GST_FORMAT_TIME,
+        seek_flags | GST_SEEK_FLAG_ACCURATE,
+        /* start */ GST_SEEK_TYPE_SET, pos,
+        /* stop */ GST_SEEK_TYPE_SET, GST_CLOCK_TIME_NONE);
+  else
+    seek = gst_event_new_seek (rate, GST_FORMAT_TIME,
+        seek_flags | GST_SEEK_FLAG_ACCURATE,
+        /* start */ GST_SEEK_TYPE_SET, 0,
+        /* stop */ GST_SEEK_TYPE_SET, pos);
+
+  if (!gst_element_send_event (GST_ELEMENT (self->priv->pipeline), seek))
+    return FALSE;
+
+done:
+  self->priv->rate = rate;
+  self->priv->trick_mode = mode & ~GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_INSTANT_RATE;
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+static void
+restore_terminal (void)
+{
+  gst_play_kb_set_key_handler (NULL, NULL);
+}
+
+static void
+toggle_paused (GESLauncher * self)
+{
+  if (self->priv->desired_state == GST_STATE_PLAYING)
+    self->priv->desired_state = GST_STATE_PAUSED;
+  else
+    self->priv->desired_state = GST_STATE_PLAYING;
+
+  gst_element_set_state (GST_ELEMENT (self->priv->pipeline),
+      self->priv->desired_state);
+}
+
+static void
+relative_seek (GESLauncher * self, gdouble percent)
+{
+  gint64 pos = -1, step, dur;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (percent >= -1.0 && percent <= 1.0);
+
+  if (!gst_element_query_position (GST_ELEMENT (self->priv->pipeline),
+          GST_FORMAT_TIME, &pos))
+    goto seek_failed;
+
+  if (!gst_element_query_duration (GST_ELEMENT (self->priv->pipeline),
+          GST_FORMAT_TIME, &dur)) {
+    goto seek_failed;
+  }
+
+  step = dur * percent;
+  if (ABS (step) < GST_SECOND)
+    step = (percent < 0) ? -GST_SECOND : GST_SECOND;
+
+  pos = pos + step;
+  if (pos > dur) {
+    gst_print ("\n%s\n", "Reached end of self list.");
+    g_application_quit (G_APPLICATION (self));
+  } else {
+    if (pos < 0)
+      pos = 0;
+
+    play_do_seek (self, pos, self->priv->rate, self->priv->trick_mode);
+  }
+
+  return;
+
+seek_failed:
+  {
+    gst_print ("\nCould not seek.\n");
+  }
+}
+
+static gboolean
+play_set_rate_and_trick_mode (GESLauncher * self, gdouble rate,
+    GstPlayTrickMode mode)
+{
+  gint64 pos = -1;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (rate != 0, FALSE);
+
+  if (!gst_element_query_position (GST_ELEMENT (self->priv->pipeline),
+          GST_FORMAT_TIME, &pos))
+    return FALSE;
+
+  return play_do_seek (self, pos, rate, mode);
+}
+
+static void
+play_set_playback_rate (GESLauncher * self, gdouble rate)
+{
+  GstPlayTrickMode mode = self->priv->trick_mode;
+
+  if (play_set_rate_and_trick_mode (self, rate, mode)) {
+    gst_print ("Playback rate: %.2f", rate);
+    gst_print ("                               \n");
+  } else {
+    gst_print ("\n");
+    gst_print ("Could not change playback rate to %.2f", rate);
+    gst_print (".\n");
+  }
+}
+
+static void
+play_set_relative_playback_rate (GESLauncher * self, gdouble rate_step,
+    gboolean reverse_direction)
+{
+  gdouble new_rate = self->priv->rate + rate_step;
+
+  play_set_playback_rate (self, new_rate);
+}
+
+static const gchar *
+trick_mode_get_description (GstPlayTrickMode mode)
+{
+  switch (mode) {
+    case GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_NONE:
+      return "normal playback, trick modes disabled";
+    case GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_DEFAULT:
+      return "trick mode: default";
+    case GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_DEFAULT_NO_AUDIO:
+      return "trick mode: default, no audio";
+    case GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_KEY_UNITS:
+      return "trick mode: key frames only";
+    case GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_KEY_UNITS_NO_AUDIO:
+      return "trick mode: key frames only, no audio";
+    default:
+      break;
+  }
+  return "unknown trick mode";
+}
+
+static void
+play_switch_trick_mode (GESLauncher * self)
+{
+  GstPlayTrickMode new_mode = ++self->priv->trick_mode;
+  const gchar *mode_desc;
+
+  if (new_mode == GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_LAST)
+    new_mode = GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_NONE;
+
+  mode_desc = trick_mode_get_description (new_mode);
+
+  if (play_set_rate_and_trick_mode (self, self->priv->rate, new_mode)) {
+    gst_print ("Rate: %.2f (%s)                      \n", self->priv->rate,
+        mode_desc);
+  } else {
+    gst_print ("\nCould not change trick mode to %s.\n", mode_desc);
+  }
+}
+
+static void
+print_keyboard_help (void)
+{
+  static struct
+  {
+    const gchar *key_desc;
+    const gchar *key_help;
+  } key_controls[] = {
+    {
+    "space", "pause/unpause"}, {
+    "q or ESC", "quit"}, {
+    "\342\206\222", "seek forward"}, {
+    "\342\206\220", "seek backward"}, {
+    "+", "increase playback rate"}, {
+    "-", "decrease playback rate"}, {
+    "t", "enable/disable trick modes"}, {
+    "s", "change subtitle track"}, {
+    "0", "seek to beginning"}, {
+  "k", "show keyboard shortcuts"},};
+  guint i, chars_to_pad, desc_len, max_desc_len = 0;
+
+  gst_print ("\n\n%s\n\n", "Interactive mode - keyboard controls:");
+
+  for (i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS (key_controls); ++i) {
+    desc_len = g_utf8_strlen (key_controls[i].key_desc, -1);
+    max_desc_len = MAX (max_desc_len, desc_len);
+  }
+  ++max_desc_len;
+
+  for (i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS (key_controls); ++i) {
+    chars_to_pad = max_desc_len - g_utf8_strlen (key_controls[i].key_desc, -1);
+    gst_print ("\t%s", key_controls[i].key_desc);
+    gst_print ("%-*s: ", chars_to_pad, "");
+    gst_print ("%s\n", key_controls[i].key_help);
+  }
+  gst_print ("\n");
+}
+
 static gboolean
 _parse_track_type (const gchar * option_name, const gchar * value,
     GESLauncherParsedOptions * opts, GError ** error)
@@ -971,6 +1222,10 @@ ges_launcher_parse_options (GESLauncher * self,
           "Embed nested timelines when saving.",
         }
     ,
+    {"no-interactive", 0, G_OPTION_FLAG_REVERSE, G_OPTION_ARG_NONE,
+          &opts->interactive,
+        "Disable interactive control via the keyboard", NULL}
+    ,
     {NULL}
   };
 
@@ -1090,6 +1345,68 @@ done:
   return res;
 }
 
+static void
+keyboard_cb (const gchar * key_input, gpointer user_data)
+{
+  GESLauncher *self = (GESLauncher *) user_data;
+  gchar key = '\0';
+
+  /* only want to switch/case on single char, not first char of string */
+  if (key_input[0] != '\0' && key_input[1] == '\0')
+    key = g_ascii_tolower (key_input[0]);
+
+  switch (key) {
+    case 'k':
+      print_keyboard_help ();
+      break;
+    case ' ':
+      toggle_paused (self);
+      break;
+    case 'q':
+    case 'Q':
+      g_application_quit (G_APPLICATION (self));
+      break;
+    case '+':
+      if (ABS (self->priv->rate) < 2.0)
+        play_set_relative_playback_rate (self, 0.1, FALSE);
+      else if (ABS (self->priv->rate) < 4.0)
+        play_set_relative_playback_rate (self, 0.5, FALSE);
+      else
+        play_set_relative_playback_rate (self, 1.0, FALSE);
+      break;
+    case '-':
+      if (ABS (self->priv->rate) <= 2.0)
+        play_set_relative_playback_rate (self, -0.1, FALSE);
+      else if (ABS (self->priv->rate) <= 4.0)
+        play_set_relative_playback_rate (self, -0.5, FALSE);
+      else
+        play_set_relative_playback_rate (self, -1.0, FALSE);
+      break;
+    case 't':
+      play_switch_trick_mode (self);
+      break;
+    case 27:                   /* ESC */
+      if (key_input[1] == '\0') {
+        g_application_quit (G_APPLICATION (self));
+        break;
+      }
+    case '0':
+      play_do_seek (self, 0, self->priv->rate, self->priv->trick_mode);
+      break;
+    default:
+      if (strcmp (key_input, GST_PLAY_KB_ARROW_RIGHT) == 0) {
+        relative_seek (self, +0.08);
+      } else if (strcmp (key_input, GST_PLAY_KB_ARROW_LEFT) == 0) {
+        relative_seek (self, -0.01);
+      } else {
+        GST_INFO ("keyboard input:");
+        for (; *key_input != '\0'; ++key_input)
+          GST_INFO ("  code %3d", *key_input);
+      }
+      break;
+  }
+}
+
 static void
 _startup (GApplication * application)
 {
@@ -1107,6 +1424,15 @@ _startup (GApplication * application)
     goto done;
   }
 
+  if (opts->interactive && !opts->outputuri) {
+    if (gst_play_kb_set_key_handler (keyboard_cb, self)) {
+      gst_print ("Press 'k' to see a list of keyboard shortcuts.\n");
+      atexit (restore_terminal);
+    } else {
+      gst_print ("Interactive keyboard handling in terminal not available.\n");
+    }
+  }
+
   if (opts->list_transitions) {
     _print_transition_list ();
     goto done;
@@ -1202,6 +1528,10 @@ ges_launcher_init (GESLauncher * self)
   self->priv = ges_launcher_get_instance_private (self);
   self->priv->parsed_options.track_types =
       GES_TRACK_TYPE_AUDIO | GES_TRACK_TYPE_VIDEO;
+  self->priv->parsed_options.interactive = TRUE;
+  self->priv->desired_state = GST_STATE_PLAYING;
+  self->priv->rate = 1.0;
+  self->priv->trick_mode = GST_PLAY_TRICK_MODE_NONE;
 }
 
 gint
diff --git a/tools/ges-launcher.h b/tools/ges-launcher.h
index d50d8f41f3..4021b14286 100644
--- a/tools/ges-launcher.h
+++ b/tools/ges-launcher.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ typedef struct
   gboolean disable_validate;
 
   gboolean ignore_eos;
+  gboolean interactive;
 } GESLauncherParsedOptions;
 
 struct _GESLauncher {
diff --git a/tools/meson.build b/tools/meson.build
index cb5113997a..f0726abd68 100644
--- a/tools/meson.build
+++ b/tools/meson.build
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ if gstvalidate_dep.found()
 endif
 
 ges_launch = executable('ges-launch-@0@'.format(apiversion),
-    'ges-validate.c', 'ges-launch.c', 'ges-launcher.c', 'utils.c',
+    'ges-validate.c', 'ges-launch.c', 'ges-launcher.c', 'utils.c', 'ges-launcher-kb.c',
     c_args : [ges_tool_args],
     dependencies : deps,
     install: true