diff --git a/pixelocr/gui/window.py b/pixelocr/gui/window.py
index bc05a04..bb69d59 100644
--- a/pixelocr/gui/window.py
+++ b/pixelocr/gui/window.py
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.pageScene = PageScene(self)
         self.page = PageView(self.pageScene, centralWidget)
         self.glyphEdit = GlyphEdit(centralWidget)
-        self.glyphEdit.glyphEntered.connect(self.glyphEntered)
+        self.glyphEdit.setEnabled(False)
+        self.glyphEdit.glyphEntered.connect(self.unknownGlyphEntered)
         self.glyphEdit.glyphEntered.connect(self.pageScene.clearHighlight)
         ocr.pageChanged.connect(self.pageScene.setPage)
         ocr.pageChanged.connect(self.showPageTitle)
@@ -104,6 +105,11 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.glyphEdit.text.clear()
         self.glyphEdit.text.setFocus()
 
+    def unknownGlyphEntered(self, text):
+        self.glyphEdit.setEnabled(False)
+        self.glyphEdit.text.clear()
+        self.glyphEntered.emit(text)
+
     def showGlyphDBEdit(self):
         if self.dbedit is None:
             self.dbedit = GlyphDBEdit(self.ocr.glyphdb)