diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index cc83cfe..022d8b8 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -16,8 +16,11 @@ vimcode is a TUI plugin for [OpenCode](https://opencode.ai). Before working on i
 **Gotchas we hit during development:**
 - TUI plugins go in `tui.json`, not `opencode.json`. The config field is `"plugin"`.
 - The plugin `package.json` needs `exports: { "./tui": "./src/index.ts" }` — the loader checks `./tui`, not `.`.
-- `dispatchCommand()` from inside a `key:before` intercept doesn't work for cursor movement. Wrap in `setTimeout(..., 0)` to break out of the intercept stack.
+- **`key:before` is NOT a valid intercept type.** The keymap only supports `"key"`, `"key:after"`, and `"raw"`. Passing `"key:before"` silently registers a raw terminal sequence handler that crashes on key events.
+- `dispatchCommand()` from inside a `key` intercept doesn't work for cursor movement. Wrap in `setTimeout(..., 0)` to break out of the intercept stack.
 - `registerLayer` with `activeWhen` using SolidJS signals requires `reactiveMatcherFromSignal` from `@opentui/keymap/solid`. Plain `() => signal()` doesn't trigger re-evaluation. We chose intercepts instead of layers to avoid this.
+- **Leader key is handled entirely within the keymap's `dispatchLayers()`.** There is no separate `useKeyboard` handler for it. `registerTimedLeader` registers a token; `dispatchLayers()` matches it; `getPendingSequence()` exposes the state. Calling `ctx.consume()` in a `key` intercept sets `event.propagationStopped`, which the keymap checks after each intercept — if set, it skips `dispatchLayers()` entirely. This is the correct way to suppress the leader in insert mode.
+- **`api.tuiConfig.keybinds`** gives access to OpenCode's resolved keybind config. `api.tuiConfig.keybinds.get("leader")?.[0]?.key` returns the configured leader key. Used by `resolveLeader()` to auto-detect the leader without requiring a separate plugin option.
 - **SolidJS imports do NOT work in git-installed plugins.** The host's `ensureRuntimePluginSupport` intercepts `solid-js` and `@opentui/solid` imports, but `@opentui/solid/jsx-dev-runtime` (generated by the JSX transform) doesn't resolve from the package cache. Declaring them as peer deps also fails — Bun installs local `.d.ts` stubs that shadow the host's runtime modules. Until OpenCode fixes this, avoid JSX and `solid-js` imports in distributed plugins. Use `api.ui.toast()` for mode feedback instead of slot indicators.
 - **Do NOT add `solid-js`, `@opentui/solid`, or `@opentui/core` as dependencies or peerDependencies.** If they're in `package.json`, Bun installs them into the plugin's `node_modules/`, and the local `.d.ts` stubs shadow the host's runtime module intercepts. The host provides these at runtime via `ensureRuntimePluginSupport`. Keep them only in `devDependencies` (via `@opencode-ai/plugin` which pulls them in for type-checking).
 
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d3a3c75..2af76bd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,14 @@ Format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/). Version
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Changed
+
+- Leader key is now auto-detected from OpenCode's `keybinds.leader` config. The `leader` plugin option has been removed.
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Leader key (e.g. space) no longer enters pending-sequence state when typing in question or permission prompt overlays.
+
 ## [0.12.2] — 2026-06-08
 
 ### Reverted
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9eaf811..de1c1a2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ To pass options, use the tuple form in `tui.json`:
 | `updateCheck` | `boolean` | `true` | On startup, check GitHub for new versions (at most once per day). This is the only network request vimcode makes. Set to `false` to disable. |
 | `modeIndicator` | `"toast"` \| `"none"` | `"toast"` | How to show the current mode. `"toast"` flashes a brief notification on each switch. `"none"` disables it, relying on cursor shape alone. |
 | `startMode` | `"insert"` \| `"normal"` | `"insert"` | Which mode to start in when OpenCode launches. |
-| `leader` | `string` | — | Set this to match your `"leader"` keybind in `tui.json`. If you use space as leader (common in vim), this keeps spaces working while you type and lets leader sequences like `space l` fire in normal mode. Supports modifiers too: `"C-x"`, `"S-a"`, `"M-x"`. |
 
 ## What it does
 
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 38099f5..f7df2bc 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   handleNormalKey,
   handleVisualKey,
   matchesLeader,
+  type ParsedLeader,
   parseLeaderKey,
   translateKey,
 } from "./vim";
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ const plugin: TuiPluginModule = {
     const state = createVimState();
     const startMode = options?.startMode === "normal" ? "normal" : "insert";
     state.mode = startMode;
-    const leader = options?.leader ? parseLeaderKey(options.leader) : null;
+    const leader = resolveLeader();
 
     // Resolve modeIndicator: "toast" (default) or "none".
     // Backward compat: modeToast:false maps to "none", but only if
@@ -55,6 +56,21 @@ const plugin: TuiPluginModule = {
       return api.renderer?.currentFocusedEditor?.plainText ?? "";
     }
 
+    // Read the leader key from OpenCode's resolved keybinds config.
+    function resolveLeader(): ParsedLeader | null {
+      const binding = api.tuiConfig?.keybinds?.get?.("leader")?.[0];
+      const key = binding?.key;
+      if (typeof key === "string") return parseLeaderKey(key);
+      if (key && typeof key === "object" && typeof key.name === "string") {
+        let raw = key.name;
+        if (key.ctrl) raw = `C-${raw}`;
+        if (key.shift) raw = `S-${raw}`;
+        if (key.meta) raw = `M-${raw}`;
+        return parseLeaderKey(raw);
+      }
+      return null;
+    }
+
     function applyActions(actions: Action[]) {
       for (const action of actions) {
         // Any buffer-modifying action (other than our own deleteRange/undo)
@@ -185,7 +201,18 @@ const plugin: TuiPluginModule = {
           if (sid) {
             const q = api.state.session.question(sid);
             const p = api.state.session.permission(sid);
-            if ((q && q.length > 0) || (p && p.length > 0)) return;
+            if ((q && q.length > 0) || (p && p.length > 0)) {
+              // Consume the leader key so dispatchLayers() doesn't
+              // match it as a leader token, which would enter pending-
+              // sequence state instead of typing a space.
+              if (leader && matchesLeader(ctx.event, leader)) {
+                ctx.consume();
+                if (leader.char) {
+                  api.renderer?.currentFocusedEditor?.insertText?.(leader.char);
+                }
+              }
+              return;
+            }
           }
         }