diff --git a/lib/webos/platform.js b/lib/webos/platform.js
index cb0d7e5..9f297ed 100644
--- a/lib/webos/platform.js
+++ b/lib/webos/platform.js
@@ -65,11 +65,21 @@
                     console.log("event:ToggleAppMenu");
                     cordova.fireDocumentEvent("menubutton");
                 }
-                
+
                 console.log("relaunch");
                 return true;
             };
 
+            // start listening for keyup events to catch the back-gesture
+            document.addEventListener('keyup', function(ev) {
+              if (ev.keyIdentifier == "U+1200001" || ev.keyIdentifier == "U+001B" || ev.keyIdentifier =="Back") {
+                console.log("Firing event:backbutton");
+                cordova.fireDocumentEvent("backbutton");
+                ev.preventDefault();
+                return true;
+              }
+            }, false);  
+
             // start to listen for network connection changes
             service.Request('palm://com.palm.connectionmanager', {
                 method: 'getstatus',