Situation: an application freezes the X server and no keyboard input works. So I use Alt+SysRq+R to take the keyboard out of raw mode (make the kernel take control of the keyboard away from the X server). I can then type Ctrl+Alt+F1, kill the bad processes, and everything works again. So far so good.

But the keyboard is still in the hands of the kernel, making Alt+Left/Right shortcuts for Decr_Console/Incr_Console. This is annoying, and I want to give control over the keyboard back to the X server.

I have tried typing Alt+SysRq+R again, this does not switch things back. I have also tried the command kbd_mode -u, but nothing changes.

Any advice?