diff --git a/ffi/readline.lua b/ffi/readline.lua
index fdcad90..682203a 100644
--- a/ffi/readline.lua
+++ b/ffi/readline.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 -- ffi/readline.lua — GNU readline binding.
--- Phase 0: readline + add_history + EOF handling. Phase 1: custom key bindings.
--- See docs/PHASE0.md §9.
+-- Phase 0: readline + add_history + EOF handling.
+-- Phase 1: custom key bindings via rl_bind_keyseq.
+-- See docs/PHASE0.md §9 and docs/PHASE1.md §7.
 
 local ffi = require("ffi")
 
@@ -8,6 +9,9 @@ ffi.cdef[[
 char *readline(const char *prompt);
 void  add_history(const char *line);
 void  free(void *ptr);
+
+typedef int (*rl_command_func_t)(int, int);
+int rl_bind_keyseq(const char *keyseq, rl_command_func_t function);
 ]]
 
 -- libreadline-dev (which ships the unversioned `libreadline.so` symlink) is
@@ -47,4 +51,26 @@ function M.add_history(line)
     end
 end
 
+-- Bind `seq` (e.g. "\\C-n") to a Lua function that runs when the user types
+-- that key sequence at the readline prompt. The Lua fn takes no arguments
+-- (readline passes count + key, but Phase 1 consumers don't need them).
+-- Callback trampolines are pinned in module-local state so they outlive the
+-- M.bind call — readline retains the function pointer indefinitely.
+local _bound = {}
+
+function M.bind(seq, fn)
+    if _bound[seq] then
+        _bound[seq]:free()
+    end
+    local cb = ffi.cast("rl_command_func_t", function(_count, _key)
+        local ok, err = pcall(fn)
+        if not ok then
+            io.stderr:write("ffi/readline bind handler error: " .. tostring(err) .. "\n")
+        end
+        return 0
+    end)
+    _bound[seq] = cb
+    return rl.rl_bind_keyseq(seq, cb) == 0
+end
+
 return M
diff --git a/repl.lua b/repl.lua
index 9c82ad2..b84b5d8 100644
--- a/repl.lua
+++ b/repl.lua
@@ -67,6 +67,13 @@ function M.run(config)
         return ("[aish:%s]> "):format(active_name)
     end
 
+    -- Phase 1 reserved-key wiring (PHASE1.md §7). The mechanism is real; the
+    -- handlers are placeholders that emit a status. Phase 3 (Norris) is the
+    -- first consumer that replaces the body with real work.
+    rl.bind("\\C-n", function()
+        renderer.status("Norris mode not yet implemented (Phase 3)")
+    end)
+
     local function status_evictions(n)
         if n and n > 0 then
             renderer.status(("oldest %d turns evicted"):format(n))