diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/hotkey.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/hotkey.js
index 832d88d87d..e839e602de 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/hotkey.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/hotkey.js
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ function stubbing(func_name_to_stub, test_function) {
     assert.equal(map_down(27).name, 'escape');
     assert.equal(map_down(37).name, 'left_arrow');
     assert.equal(map_down(13).name, 'enter');
+    assert.equal(map_down(46).name, 'delete');
     assert.equal(map_down(13, true).name, 'enter');
 
     assert.equal(map_press(47).name, 'search'); // slash
diff --git a/static/js/drafts.js b/static/js/drafts.js
index b2f01a5924..1a11617c83 100644
--- a/static/js/drafts.js
+++ b/static/js/drafts.js
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ exports.drafts_handle_events = function (e, event_key) {
     var elt = document.activeElement;
     var focused_draft = $(elt.parentElement)[0].getAttribute("data-draft-id");
     // Allows user to delete drafts with backspace
-    if (event_key === "backspace") {
+    if (event_key === "backspace" || event_key === "delete") {
         if (elt.parentElement.hasAttribute("data-draft-id")) {
             var focus_draft_back_row = $(elt)[0].parentElement;
             var backnext_focus_draft_row = $(focus_draft_back_row).next();
diff --git a/static/js/hotkey.js b/static/js/hotkey.js
index 1d3ffb19ee..c5be8459e3 100644
--- a/static/js/hotkey.js
+++ b/static/js/hotkey.js
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ var keydown_either_mappings = {
     // in other apps, but that's also slightly dubious.
     8: {name: 'backspace', message_view_only: true}, // backspace
     13: {name: 'enter', message_view_only: false}, // enter
+    46: {name: 'delete', message_view_only: false}, // delete
 };
 
 var keypress_mappings = {
@@ -436,6 +437,7 @@ exports.process_hotkey = function (e, hotkey) {
         case 'up_arrow':
         case 'down_arrow':
         case 'backspace':
+        case 'delete':
             if (overlays.drafts_open()) {
                 drafts.drafts_handle_events(e, event_name);
                 return true;