diff --git a/.config/kak/autoload/insert-mode.kak b/.config/kak/autoload/insert-mode.kak
index 91b57c45..a60e5e41 100644
--- a/.config/kak/autoload/insert-mode.kak
+++ b/.config/kak/autoload/insert-mode.kak
@@ -1,5 +1,50 @@
-map global insert <down> <c-n>
-map global insert <up> <c-p>
+# arrow keys for completions
+
+declare-option -hidden str completions_status 'completions-off'
+define-command -hidden completions-off fail
+define-command -hidden completions-on nop
+define-command -hidden completions-up nop
+define-command -hidden completions-down fail
+
+hook global InsertCompletionShow .* %{
+    set-option window completions_status 'completions-on'
+}
+
+hook global InsertCompletionHide .* %{
+    set-option window completions_status 'completions-off'
+}
+
+define-command -hidden assert-completions %{
+    %opt{completions_status}
+}
+
+# arg: "completions-up" or "completions-down"
+define-command -hidden -params 1 move-or-complete %{
+    try %{
+        # completions are visible
+        %opt{completions_status}
+        try %{
+            # up
+            %arg{1}
+            execute-keys <c-p>
+        } catch %{
+            # down
+            execute-keys <c-n>
+        }
+    } catch %{
+        # completions are not visible
+        try %{
+            # up
+            %arg{1}
+            execute-keys <up>
+        } catch %{
+            execute-keys <down>
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+map global insert <down> '<a-;>: move-or-complete completions-down<ret>'
+map global insert <up> '<a-;>: move-or-complete completions-up<ret>'
 
 map global insert <c-m> <home>
 map global insert <a-m> <home>