diff --git a/lib/tty_posix.js b/lib/tty_posix.js
index 98f271a2d2..dd37e3115a 100644
--- a/lib/tty_posix.js
+++ b/lib/tty_posix.js
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ ReadStream.prototype._emitKey = function(s) {
 
   } else if (s === '\t') {
     // tab
-    key.tab = 'tab';
+    key.name = 'tab';
 
   } else if (s === '\b' || s === '\x7f') {
     // backspace or ctrl+h