diff --git a/java/res/values/donottranslate.xml b/java/res/values/donottranslate.xml
index e3f0aeaded35da43773948f0fd64c7b557f0709e..49bfe65c9335517af1f05132fba6afe05fd312d7 100644
--- a/java/res/values/donottranslate.xml
+++ b/java/res/values/donottranslate.xml
@@ -22,10 +22,11 @@
          See {@link SettingsValues#needsToShowVoiceInputKey(SharedPreferences,Resources)} -->
     <string name="voice_mode_main">0</string>
 
-    <!-- Title for Latin keyboard debug settings activity / dialog -->
-    <string name="english_ime_debug_settings">Android keyboard Debug settings</string>
+    <!-- Title for Android keyboard debug settings activity / dialog -->
+    <string name="english_ime_debug_settings">Android Keyboard Debug settings</string>
     <string name="prefs_debug_mode">Debug Mode</string>
     <string name="prefs_force_non_distinct_multitouch">Force non-distinct multitouch</string>
+    <string name="prefs_force_physical_keyboard_special_key">Force physical keyboard special key</string>
 
     <!-- Subtype locale display name exceptions.
          For each exception, there should be related string resources for display name that may have
diff --git a/java/res/xml/prefs_screen_debug.xml b/java/res/xml/prefs_screen_debug.xml
index ae29a8a82e1c57ef3c1e5536bf1f4f8b82169303..0acc69a1681b4657fe1fdafa2c4e10dc354c11e4 100644
--- a/java/res/xml/prefs_screen_debug.xml
+++ b/java/res/xml/prefs_screen_debug.xml
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@
         android:title="@string/prefs_force_non_distinct_multitouch"
         android:defaultValue="false"
         android:persistent="true" />
+    <CheckBoxPreference
+        android:key="force_physical_keyboard_special_key"
+        android:title="@string/prefs_force_physical_keyboard_special_key"
+        android:defaultValue="false"
+        android:persistent="true" />
     <CheckBoxPreference
         android:key="pref_sliding_key_input_preview"
         android:title="@string/sliding_key_input_preview"
diff --git a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/LatinIME.java b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/LatinIME.java
index 9b629ca147818d6a98375c0954e20e0157829e9c..91b01b506e6ab50472fef6de7887fdf018f38e91 100644
--- a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/LatinIME.java
+++ b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/LatinIME.java
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ public class LatinIME extends InputMethodService implements KeyboardActionListen
     @UsedForTesting final KeyboardSwitcher mKeyboardSwitcher;
     private final SubtypeSwitcher mSubtypeSwitcher;
     private final SubtypeState mSubtypeState = new SubtypeState();
-    private final SpecialKeyDetector mSpecialKeyDetector = new SpecialKeyDetector();
+    private final SpecialKeyDetector mSpecialKeyDetector;
 
     // Object for reacting to adding/removing a dictionary pack.
     private final BroadcastReceiver mDictionaryPackInstallReceiver =
@@ -517,6 +517,7 @@ public class LatinIME extends InputMethodService implements KeyboardActionListen
         mSettings = Settings.getInstance();
         mSubtypeSwitcher = SubtypeSwitcher.getInstance();
         mKeyboardSwitcher = KeyboardSwitcher.getInstance();
+        mSpecialKeyDetector = new SpecialKeyDetector(this);
         mIsHardwareAcceleratedDrawingEnabled =
                 InputMethodServiceCompatUtils.enableHardwareAcceleration(this);
         Log.i(TAG, "Hardware accelerated drawing: " + mIsHardwareAcceleratedDrawingEnabled);
diff --git a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/SpecialKeyDetector.java b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/SpecialKeyDetector.java
index 9d6c69ae778cc9e943e0d1ddcd1b2558c3fa4ea1..27b2f501222555f66287b1785f68eea54e148163 100644
--- a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/SpecialKeyDetector.java
+++ b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/SpecialKeyDetector.java
@@ -16,9 +16,17 @@
 
 package com.android.inputmethod.latin;
 
+import android.content.Context;
 import android.view.KeyEvent;
 
 final class SpecialKeyDetector {
+    /**
+     * Special physical key detector
+     * @param context a context of this detector.
+     */
+    public SpecialKeyDetector(final Context context) {
+    }
+
     /**
      * Record a down key event.
      * @param keyEvent a down key event.
diff --git a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/settings/DebugSettings.java b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/settings/DebugSettings.java
index dce11b434e01f0fcda79b54c0e7435d7d417091f..bb3749da40de2f27ced3e258a6d5d395b5d3806a 100644
--- a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/settings/DebugSettings.java
+++ b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/settings/DebugSettings.java
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ package com.android.inputmethod.latin.settings;
 public final class DebugSettings {
     public static final String PREF_DEBUG_MODE = "debug_mode";
     public static final String PREF_FORCE_NON_DISTINCT_MULTITOUCH = "force_non_distinct_multitouch";
+    public static final String PREF_FORCE_PHYSICAL_KEYBOARD_SPECIAL_KEY =
+            "force_physical_keyboard_special_key";
     public static final String PREF_KEY_PREVIEW_SHOW_UP_START_SCALE =
             "pref_key_preview_show_up_start_scale";
     public static final String PREF_KEY_PREVIEW_DISMISS_END_SCALE =
diff --git a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/settings/DebugSettingsFragment.java b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/settings/DebugSettingsFragment.java
index 4e41d52a3f9cd23bb8efb2f662347fe6db7cf583..2139bb11cd0e40d2df8a8de39e8bb686b5c779c2 100644
--- a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/settings/DebugSettingsFragment.java
+++ b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/settings/DebugSettingsFragment.java
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ public final class DebugSettingsFragment extends SubScreenFragment
             mServiceNeedsRestart = true;
             return;
         }
-        if (key.equals(DebugSettings.PREF_FORCE_NON_DISTINCT_MULTITOUCH)) {
+        if (key.equals(DebugSettings.PREF_FORCE_NON_DISTINCT_MULTITOUCH)
+                || key.equals(DebugSettings.PREF_FORCE_PHYSICAL_KEYBOARD_SPECIAL_KEY)) {
             mServiceNeedsRestart = true;
             return;
         }