diff --git a/collects/mred/private/const.ss b/collects/mred/private/const.ss
index 0ac55430..d19fee21 100644
--- a/collects/mred/private/const.ss
+++ b/collects/mred/private/const.ss
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 (module const mzscheme
   (require (lib "class.ss")
+	   (lib "file.ss")
 	   (prefix wx: "kernel.ss"))
   (provide (protect (all-defined)))
 
@@ -36,6 +37,18 @@
   (define ibeam (make-object wx:cursor% 'ibeam))
   (define arrow-cursor (make-object wx:cursor% 'arrow))
 
+  (define default-x-prefix (if (eq? 'unix (system-type))
+			       (let ([v (get-preference '|MrEd:defaultMenuPrefix| (lambda () 'ctl))])
+				 (if (memq v '(meta ctl alt ctl-m))
+				     v
+				     'ctl))
+			       'ctl))
+
+  (define (menu-shortcut-in-label?)
+    (case (system-type)
+      [(unix) (not (memq default-x-prefix '(alt meta)))]
+      [else (wx:shortcut-visible-in-label? #t)]))
+
   (define bg-color (wx:get-panel-background))
 
   (define (scale-color c f)
diff --git a/collects/mred/private/mrmenu.ss b/collects/mred/private/mrmenu.ss
index 8c494b44..0566935e 100644
--- a/collects/mred/private/mrmenu.ss
+++ b/collects/mred/private/mrmenu.ss
@@ -65,7 +65,14 @@
 	   (super-init wx)))
 	(restore))))
 
-  (define (strip-tab s) (car (regexp-match #rx"^[^\t]*" s)))
+  (define strip-tab 
+    (if (menu-shortcut-in-label?)
+	(lambda (s) 
+	  (car (regexp-match #rx"^[^\t]*" s)))
+	(lambda (s) 
+	  (regexp-replace* "&"
+			   (regexp-replace* "&(.)" (car (regexp-match #rx"^[^\t]*" s)) "\\1")
+			   "\\&\\&"))))
 
   (define basic-labelled-menu-item%
     (class100* mred% (labelled-menu-item<%>) (prnt lbl help-str wx-sub chkble? keymap set-wx demand-callback)
@@ -122,7 +129,7 @@
 				(send wx-parent append (send wx id) label wx-submenu help-string)
 				(send wx-parent append (send wx id) label help-string checkable?))
 			    (send wx-parent append-item this wx))
-			  (send wx-parent append-item this wx-submenu label))
+			  (send wx-parent append-item this wx-submenu (strip-tab label)))
 		      (set! shown? #t)
 		      (do-enable enabled?))))]
 	[delete (entry-point
@@ -173,7 +180,7 @@
 		   (check-instance '(method selectable-menu-item<%> command) wx:control-event% 'control-event% #f e)
 		   (void (callback this e)))])
       (private-field
-       [x-prefix 'meta])
+       [x-prefix default-x-prefix])
       (private
 	[calc-labels (lambda (label)
 		       (let* ([new-label (if shortcut
diff --git a/collects/mred/private/wxmenu.ss b/collects/mred/private/wxmenu.ss
index b881f93e..dd06f528 100644
--- a/collects/mred/private/wxmenu.ss
+++ b/collects/mred/private/wxmenu.ss
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
 		      (as-exit 
 		       (lambda () 
 			 (or (send keymap handle-key-event this event)
-			     (and (wx:shortcut-visible-in-label? #t)
+			     (and (menu-shortcut-in-label?)
 				  (send event get-meta-down)
 				  (char? (send event get-key-code))
 				  (let ([c (send event get-key-code)])
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
 						     [menu (cdr data)])
 						(if (regexp-match re label)
 						    (begin
-						      (send menu select)
+						      (send menu select this)
 						      #t)
 						    #f)))
 					    items)))))))))]