diff --git a/lib/core/ui.sh b/lib/core/ui.sh
index aa0b796..562e0c8 100755
--- a/lib/core/ui.sh
+++ b/lib/core/ui.sh
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ read_key() {
         'm' | 'M') echo "MORE" ;;
         'u' | 'U') echo "UPDATE" ;;
         't' | 'T') echo "TOUCHID" ;;
+        'j' | 'J') echo "DOWN" ;;
+        'k' | 'K') echo "UP" ;;
+        'h' | 'H') echo "LEFT" ;;
+        'l' | 'L') echo "RIGHT" ;;
         $'\x03') echo "QUIT" ;;
         $'\x7f' | $'\x08') echo "DELETE" ;;
         $'\x1b')
diff --git a/tests/ui_input.bats b/tests/ui_input.bats
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..edf5468
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui_input.bats
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bats
+
+setup_file() {
+    PROJECT_ROOT="$(cd "${BATS_TEST_DIRNAME}/.." && pwd)"
+    export PROJECT_ROOT
+}
+
+setup() {
+    export MOLE_BASE_LOADED=1 # mock base loaded
+    # Mocking base functions used in ui.sh if any (mostly spinner/logging stuff, unlikely to affect read_key)
+}
+
+@test "read_key maps j/k/h/l to navigation" {
+    # Source the UI library
+    source "$PROJECT_ROOT/lib/core/ui.sh"
+
+    # Test j -> DOWN
+    run bash -c "source '$PROJECT_ROOT/lib/core/ui.sh'; echo -n 'j' | read_key"
+    [ "$output" = "DOWN" ]
+
+    # Test k -> UP
+    run bash -c "source '$PROJECT_ROOT/lib/core/ui.sh'; echo -n 'k' | read_key"
+    [ "$output" = "UP" ]
+
+    # Test h -> LEFT
+    run bash -c "source '$PROJECT_ROOT/lib/core/ui.sh'; echo -n 'h' | read_key"
+    [ "$output" = "LEFT" ]
+
+    # Test l -> RIGHT
+    run bash -c "source '$PROJECT_ROOT/lib/core/ui.sh'; echo -n 'l' | read_key"
+    [ "$output" = "RIGHT" ]
+}
+
+@test "read_key maps uppercase J/K/H/L to navigation" {
+    run bash -c "source '$PROJECT_ROOT/lib/core/ui.sh'; echo -n 'J' | read_key"
+    [ "$output" = "DOWN" ]
+
+    run bash -c "source '$PROJECT_ROOT/lib/core/ui.sh'; echo -n 'K' | read_key"
+    [ "$output" = "UP" ]
+}
+
+@test "read_key respects MOLE_READ_KEY_FORCE_CHAR" {
+    # When force char is on, j should return CHAR:j
+    run bash -c "export MOLE_READ_KEY_FORCE_CHAR=1; source '$PROJECT_ROOT/lib/core/ui.sh'; echo -n 'j' | read_key"
+    [ "$output" = "CHAR:j" ]
+}