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);