diff --git a/src/commands.cc b/src/commands.cc
index 4d659acd..84fe8361 100644
--- a/src/commands.cc
+++ b/src/commands.cc
@@ -1933,10 +1933,15 @@ const CommandDesc unmap_key_cmd = {
         if (key.size() != 1)
             throw runtime_error("only a single key can be unmapped");
 
-        if (keymaps.is_mapped(key[0], keymap_mode) and
-            (parser.positional_count() < 4 or
-             (keymaps.get_mapping(key[0], keymap_mode).keys ==
-              parse_keys(parser[3]))))
+        if (not keymaps.is_mapped(key[0], keymap_mode))
+            return;
+        auto& mapping = keymaps.get_mapping(key[0], keymap_mode);
+
+        if (mapping.is_executing)
+            throw runtime_error("cannot unmap key that is currently executing");
+
+        if (parser.positional_count() < 4 or
+             (mapping.keys == parse_keys(parser[3])))
             keymaps.unmap_key(key[0], keymap_mode);
     }
 };
@@ -2653,8 +2658,12 @@ void enter_user_mode(Context& context, String mode_name, KeymapMode mode, bool l
         InputHandler::ScopedForceNormal force_normal{context.input_handler(), {}};
 
         ScopedEdition edition(context);
-        for (auto& key : mapping.keys)
-            context.input_handler().handle_key(key);
+
+        {
+            ScopedSetBool executing_mapping{mapping.is_executing};
+            for (auto& key : mapping.keys)
+                context.input_handler().handle_key(key);
+        }
 
         if (lock)
             enter_user_mode(context, std::move(mode_name), mode, true);
diff --git a/src/input_handler.cc b/src/input_handler.cc
index 129a7e03..fb1d9ff6 100644
--- a/src/input_handler.cc
+++ b/src/input_handler.cc
@@ -1773,7 +1773,10 @@ void InputHandler::handle_key(Key key)
     if (keymaps.is_mapped(key, keymap_mode) and not m_context.keymaps_disabled())
     {
         ScopedSetBool disable_history{context().history_disabled()};
-        for (auto& k : keymaps.get_mapping(key, keymap_mode).keys)
+
+        auto& mapping = keymaps.get_mapping(key, keymap_mode);
+        ScopedSetBool executing_mapping{mapping.is_executing};
+        for (auto& k : mapping.keys)
             process_key(k);
     }
     else
diff --git a/src/keymap_manager.cc b/src/keymap_manager.cc
index 582a271d..baec1373 100644
--- a/src/keymap_manager.cc
+++ b/src/keymap_manager.cc
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ bool KeymapManager::is_mapped(Key key, KeymapMode mode) const
            (m_parent and m_parent->is_mapped(key, mode));
 }
 
-const KeymapManager::KeymapInfo&
-KeymapManager::get_mapping(Key key, KeymapMode mode) const
+KeymapManager::KeymapInfo&
+KeymapManager::get_mapping(Key key, KeymapMode mode)
 {
     auto it = m_mapping.find(KeyAndMode{key, mode});
     if (it != m_mapping.end())
diff --git a/src/keymap_manager.hh b/src/keymap_manager.hh
index 7474ed95..ddb374e4 100644
--- a/src/keymap_manager.hh
+++ b/src/keymap_manager.hh
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "hash.hh"
 #include "string.hh"
 #include "hash_map.hh"
+#include "utils.hh"
 #include "vector.hh"
 
 namespace Kakoune
@@ -42,8 +43,9 @@ public:
     {
         KeyList keys;
         String docstring;
+        NestedBool is_executing{};
     };
-    const KeymapInfo& get_mapping(Key key, KeymapMode mode) const;
+    KeymapInfo& get_mapping(Key key, KeymapMode mode);
 
     using UserModeList = Vector<String>;
     UserModeList& user_modes() {
diff --git a/src/normal.cc b/src/normal.cc
index f1123ca7..87bf272a 100644
--- a/src/normal.cc
+++ b/src/normal.cc
@@ -2033,6 +2033,7 @@ void exec_user_mappings(Context& context, NormalParams params)
 
         ScopedEdition edition(context);
         ScopedSelectionEdition selection_edition{context};
+        ScopedSetBool executing_mapping{mapping.is_executing};
         for (auto& key : mapping.keys)
             context.input_handler().handle_key(key);
     }, "user mapping",
diff --git a/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/cmd b/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/cmd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2e0bedd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/cmd
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<space>u
diff --git a/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/in b/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8b137891
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/in
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+
diff --git a/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/out b/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..190a1803
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/out
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+123
diff --git a/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/rc b/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/rc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6aaf7b52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/regression/4896-unmap-executing-mapping/rc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+map global user u %{i123<esc>:unmap global user u<ret>i456<esc>}