diff --git a/src/Surface.zig b/src/Surface.zig
index e934dc191..1a890d9b8 100644
--- a/src/Surface.zig
+++ b/src/Surface.zig
@@ -3244,17 +3244,15 @@ fn encodeKey(
         );
         defer alloc_writer.deinit();
 
-        // This results in a double allocation but this is such an unlikely
-        // path the performance impact is unimportant.
         try input.key_encode.encode(
             &alloc_writer.writer,
             event,
             encoding_opts,
         );
-        break :req try termio.Message.WriteReq.init(
-            self.alloc,
-            alloc_writer.writer.buffered(),
-        );
+        break :req .{ .alloc = .{
+            .alloc = self.alloc,
+            .data = try alloc_writer.toOwnedSlice(),
+        } };
     };
 
     // Copy the encoded data into the inspector event if we have one.