diff --git a/crates/shepherd-launcher-ui/src/main.rs b/crates/shepherd-launcher-ui/src/main.rs
index 054a3cf..706ee09 100644
--- a/crates/shepherd-launcher-ui/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/shepherd-launcher-ui/src/main.rs
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ mod grid;
 mod state;
 mod tile;
 
+use crate::client::CommandClient;
 use anyhow::Result;
 use clap::Parser;
+use shepherd_api::{ErrorCode, ResponsePayload, ResponseResult};
 use shepherd_util::default_socket_path;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use tracing_subscriber::EnvFilter;
@@ -27,6 +29,10 @@ struct Args {
     /// Log level
     #[arg(short, long, default_value = "info")]
     log_level: String,
+
+    /// Send StopCurrent to shepherdd and exit (for compositor keybindings)
+    #[arg(long)]
+    stop_current: bool,
 }
 
 fn main() -> Result<()> {
@@ -35,8 +41,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
     // Initialize logging
     tracing_subscriber::fmt()
         .with_env_filter(
-            EnvFilter::try_from_default_env()
-                .unwrap_or_else(|_| EnvFilter::new(&args.log_level)),
+            EnvFilter::try_from_default_env().unwrap_or_else(|_| EnvFilter::new(&args.log_level)),
         )
         .init();
 
@@ -45,6 +50,33 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
     // Determine socket path with fallback to default
     let socket_path = args.socket.unwrap_or_else(default_socket_path);
 
+    if args.stop_current {
+        let runtime = tokio::runtime::Runtime::new()?;
+        runtime.block_on(async move {
+            let client = CommandClient::new(&socket_path);
+            match client.stop_current().await {
+                Ok(response) => match response.result {
+                    ResponseResult::Ok(ResponsePayload::Stopped) => {
+                        tracing::info!("StopCurrent succeeded");
+                        Ok(())
+                    }
+                    ResponseResult::Err(err) if err.code == ErrorCode::NoActiveSession => {
+                        tracing::debug!("No active session to stop");
+                        Ok(())
+                    }
+                    ResponseResult::Err(err) => {
+                        anyhow::bail!("StopCurrent failed: {}", err.message)
+                    }
+                    ResponseResult::Ok(payload) => {
+                        anyhow::bail!("Unexpected StopCurrent response: {:?}", payload)
+                    }
+                },
+                Err(e) => anyhow::bail!("Failed to send StopCurrent: {}", e),
+            }
+        })?;
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
     // Run GTK application
     let application = app::LauncherApp::new(socket_path);
     let exit_code = application.run();
diff --git a/docs/ai/history/2026-02-08 001 sway stopcurrent keybinds.md b/docs/ai/history/2026-02-08 001 sway stopcurrent keybinds.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f6cb91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/ai/history/2026-02-08 001 sway stopcurrent keybinds.md	
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# Sway StopCurrent Keybinds
+
+Prompt summary:
+- Move keyboard exit handling out of launcher UI code and into `sway.conf`.
+- Keep controller home behavior as-is.
+- Ensure "exit" uses the API (`StopCurrent`) rather than closing windows directly.
+
+Implemented summary:
+- Added a `--stop-current` mode to `shepherd-launcher` that sends `StopCurrent` to shepherdd over IPC and exits.
+- Added Sway keybindings for `Alt+F4`, `Ctrl+W`, and `Home` that execute `shepherd-launcher --stop-current`.
+- Kept controller home behavior in launcher UI unchanged.
+
+Key files:
+- `sway.conf`
+- `crates/shepherd-launcher-ui/src/main.rs`
diff --git a/sway.conf b/sway.conf
index de67a74..15dd11e 100644
--- a/sway.conf
+++ b/sway.conf
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ exec_always dbus-update-activation-environment --systemd \
 ### Variables
 set $launcher ./target/debug/shepherd-launcher
 set $hud ./target/debug/shepherd-hud
+set $stop_current $launcher --stop-current
 
 ### Output configuration
 # Set up displays (adjust as needed for your hardware)
@@ -129,8 +130,11 @@ focus_follows_mouse no
 # Hide any title/tab text by using minimal font size
 font pango:monospace 1
 
-# Prevent window closing via keybindings (no Alt+F4)
-# Windows can only be closed by the application itself
+# Session stop keybindings via shepherdd API (does not close windows directly)
+# Handled in sway so they work regardless of which client currently has focus.
+bindsym --locked Alt+F4 exec $stop_current
+bindsym --locked Ctrl+w exec $stop_current
+bindsym --locked Home exec $stop_current
 
 # Hide mouse cursor after inactivity
 seat * hide_cursor 5000