diff --git a/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js b/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
index ee09b209..36f89985 100644
--- a/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
+++ b/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
@@ -216,6 +216,8 @@ var TextInput = function(parentNode, host) {
         } else if (data == PLACEHOLDER.charAt(0)) {
             if (afterContextMenu)
                 host.execCommand("del", {source: "ace"});
+            else // some versions of android do not fire keydown when pressing backspace
+                host.execCommand("backspace", {source: "ace"});
         } else {
             if (data.substring(0, 2) == PLACEHOLDER)
                 data = data.substr(2);
diff --git a/lib/ace/mouse/default_handlers.js b/lib/ace/mouse/default_handlers.js
index ebe9e0c7..bff2e2bb 100644
--- a/lib/ace/mouse/default_handlers.js
+++ b/lib/ace/mouse/default_handlers.js
@@ -109,8 +109,9 @@ function DefaultHandlers(mouseHandler) {
         pos = pos || this.editor.renderer.screenToTextCoordinates(this.x, this.y);
         var editor = this.editor;
         // allow double/triple click handlers to change selection
+        var shiftPressed = this.mousedownEvent.getShiftKey();
         setTimeout(function(){
-            if (this.mousedownEvent.getShiftKey()) {
+            if (shiftPressed) {
                 editor.selection.selectToPosition(pos);
             }
             else if (!this.$clickSelection) {