diff --git a/runtime/CMakeLists.txt b/runtime/CMakeLists.txt
index f8e721fe..7e23f865 100644
--- a/runtime/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/runtime/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -81,6 +81,17 @@ if(BUILD_TESTING)
     target_link_libraries(host_keymap_test PRIVATE ${PSX_SDL_LIBRARIES})
     add_test(NAME host_keymap_test COMMAND host_keymap_test)
 
+    add_executable(keyboard_pad_chord_test
+        tests/test_keyboard_pad_chord.c
+        src/psx_keybinds.c)
+    target_include_directories(keyboard_pad_chord_test PRIVATE
+        include ${PSX_SDL_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+    target_compile_definitions(keyboard_pad_chord_test PRIVATE
+        SDL_MAIN_HANDLED
+        $<$<BOOL:${PSX_SDL3}>:PSX_SDL3=1>)
+    target_link_libraries(keyboard_pad_chord_test PRIVATE ${PSX_SDL_LIBRARIES})
+    add_test(NAME keyboard_pad_chord_test COMMAND keyboard_pad_chord_test)
+
     # Generic external replacement-pack core. The renderer integration is a
     # separate consumer; this target pins pack discovery, deterministic keying,
     # VRAM residency, portable tracking state, and bounded asynchronous decode.
diff --git a/runtime/tests/test_keyboard_pad_chord.c b/runtime/tests/test_keyboard_pad_chord.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..08faa853
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/tests/test_keyboard_pad_chord.c
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#include "psx_keybinds.h"
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+static int failures;
+
+static void expect_word(const char *label, uint16_t expected, uint16_t actual) {
+    if (expected == actual) return;
+    fprintf(stderr, "FAIL %s: expected=0x%04X actual=0x%04X\n",
+            label, (unsigned)expected, (unsigned)actual);
+    failures++;
+}
+
+static void expect_scancode(const char *label, SDL_Scancode expected,
+                            SDL_Scancode actual) {
+    if (expected == actual) return;
+    fprintf(stderr, "FAIL %s: expected=%d actual=%d\n",
+            label, (int)expected, (int)actual);
+    failures++;
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char **argv) {
+    uint8_t keys[SDL_NUM_SCANCODES];
+    memset(keys, 0, sizeof(keys));
+
+    /* With an argument, exercise the same keybinds.ini the runtime loads. */
+    if (argc > 1) psx_keybinds_init(argv[1]);
+
+    expect_scancode("start binding", SDL_SCANCODE_RETURN,
+                    psx_keybinds_get_button(1, PSX_KB_START));
+    expect_scancode("select binding", SDL_SCANCODE_RSHIFT,
+                    psx_keybinds_get_button(1, PSX_KB_SELECT));
+
+    expect_word("released", 0xFFFFu, psx_keybinds_pad_word(keys, 1));
+
+    keys[SDL_SCANCODE_RSHIFT] = 1;
+    expect_word("select held", 0xFFFEu, psx_keybinds_pad_word(keys, 1));
+
+    keys[SDL_SCANCODE_RETURN] = 1;
+    expect_word("select+start first poll", 0xFFF6u,
+                psx_keybinds_pad_word(keys, 1));
+    expect_word("select+start consecutive poll", 0xFFF6u,
+                psx_keybinds_pad_word(keys, 1));
+
+    keys[SDL_SCANCODE_RETURN] = 0;
+    expect_word("start released, select remains", 0xFFFEu,
+                psx_keybinds_pad_word(keys, 1));
+    keys[SDL_SCANCODE_RETURN] = 1;
+    expect_word("start re-pressed with select held", 0xFFF6u,
+                psx_keybinds_pad_word(keys, 1));
+
+    if (failures) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "keyboard pad chord: %d failure(s)\n", failures);
+        return 1;
+    }
+    fprintf(stderr, "keyboard pad chord: passed\n");
+    return 0;
+}