diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppActionHandlers.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppActionHandlers.cpp
index cdc92aaf6ae..7ad847b1d24 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppActionHandlers.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppActionHandlers.cpp
@@ -307,8 +307,11 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
             }
             else
             {
-                _MoveFocus(realArgs.FocusDirection());
-                args.Handled(true);
+                // Mark as handled only when the move succeeded (e.g. when there
+                // is a pane to move to), otherwise mark as unhandled so the
+                // keychord can propagate to the terminal (GH#6129)
+                const auto moveSucceeded = _MoveFocus(realArgs.FocusDirection());
+                args.Handled(moveSucceeded);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.cpp
index a5eb4c5ddf7..fa3372f169d 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.cpp
@@ -1101,14 +1101,16 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     // Arguments:
     // - direction: The direction to move the focus in.
     // Return Value:
-    // - <none>
-    void TerminalPage::_MoveFocus(const FocusDirection& direction)
+    // - Whether changing the focus succeeded. This allows a keychord to propagate
+    //   to the terminal when no other panes are present (GH#6219)
+    bool TerminalPage::_MoveFocus(const FocusDirection& direction)
     {
         if (const auto terminalTab{ _GetFocusedTabImpl() })
         {
             _UnZoomIfNeeded();
-            terminalTab->NavigateFocus(direction);
+            return terminalTab->NavigateFocus(direction);
         }
+        return false;
     }
 
     TermControl TerminalPage::_GetActiveControl()
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.h b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.h
index 306e44c7335..b68e765b530 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.h
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.h
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
 
         void _SelectNextTab(const bool bMoveRight, const Windows::Foundation::IReference<Microsoft::Terminal::Settings::Model::TabSwitcherMode>& customTabSwitcherMode);
         bool _SelectTab(const uint32_t tabIndex);
-        void _MoveFocus(const Microsoft::Terminal::Settings::Model::FocusDirection& direction);
+        bool _MoveFocus(const Microsoft::Terminal::Settings::Model::FocusDirection& direction);
 
         winrt::Microsoft::Terminal::Control::TermControl _GetActiveControl();
         std::optional<uint32_t> _GetFocusedTabIndex() const noexcept;
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalTab.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalTab.cpp
index 4a09839407a..dc3d17f2ac6 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalTab.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalTab.cpp
@@ -481,19 +481,24 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     // Arguments:
     // - direction: The direction to move the focus in.
     // Return Value:
-    // - <none>
-    void TerminalTab::NavigateFocus(const FocusDirection& direction)
+    // - Whether changing the focus succeeded. This allows a keychord to propagate
+    //   to the terminal when no other panes are present (GH#6219)
+    bool TerminalTab::NavigateFocus(const FocusDirection& direction)
     {
         if (direction == FocusDirection::Previous)
         {
+            if (_mruPanes.size() < 2)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
             // To get to the previous pane, get the id of the previous pane and focus to that
-            _rootPane->FocusPane(_mruPanes.at(1));
+            return _rootPane->FocusPane(_mruPanes.at(1));
         }
         else
         {
             // NOTE: This _must_ be called on the root pane, so that it can propagate
             // throughout the entire tree.
-            _rootPane->NavigateFocus(direction);
+            return _rootPane->NavigateFocus(direction);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalTab.h b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalTab.h
index 7167f74a67c..225b03857b9 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalTab.h
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalTab.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
 
         void ResizeContent(const winrt::Windows::Foundation::Size& newSize);
         void ResizePane(const winrt::Microsoft::Terminal::Settings::Model::ResizeDirection& direction);
-        void NavigateFocus(const winrt::Microsoft::Terminal::Settings::Model::FocusDirection& direction);
+        bool NavigateFocus(const winrt::Microsoft::Terminal::Settings::Model::FocusDirection& direction);
         bool FocusPane(const uint32_t id);
 
         void UpdateSettings(const Microsoft::Terminal::Settings::Model::TerminalSettingsCreateResult& settings, const GUID& profile);