diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index fb2feda8..9028a881 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ bool parse_configuration(const char *override_configpath, bool use_nagbar) {
  */
 void load_configuration(xcb_connection_t *conn, const char *override_configpath, bool reload) {
     if (reload) {
+        /* If we are currently in a binding mode, we first revert to the
+         * default since we have no guarantee that the current mode will even
+         * still exist after parsing the config again. See #2228. */
+        switch_mode("default");
+
         /* First ungrab the keys */
         ungrab_all_keys(conn);
 
diff --git a/testcases/t/263-config-reload-reverts-bind-mode.t b/testcases/t/263-config-reload-reverts-bind-mode.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d72d3d94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testcases/t/263-config-reload-reverts-bind-mode.t
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+#!perl
+# vim:ts=4:sw=4:expandtab
+#
+# Please read the following documents before working on tests:
+# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/testsuite.html
+#   (or docs/testsuite)
+#
+# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/lib-i3test.html
+#   (alternatively: perldoc ./testcases/lib/i3test.pm)
+#
+# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/ipc.html
+#   (or docs/ipc)
+#
+# • http://onyxneon.com/books/modern_perl/modern_perl_a4.pdf
+#   (unless you are already familiar with Perl)
+#
+# Verifies that reloading the config reverts to the default
+# binding mode.
+# Ticket: #2228
+# Bug still in: 4.11-262-geb631ce
+use i3test i3_autostart => 0;
+
+my $config = <<EOT;
+# i3 config file (v4)
+font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
+
+mode "othermode" {
+}
+EOT
+
+my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+
+cmd 'mode othermode';
+
+my $i3 = i3(get_socket_path(0));
+$i3->connect->recv;
+
+my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
+$i3->subscribe({
+    mode => sub {
+        my ($event) = @_;
+        $cv->send($event->{change} eq 'default');
+    }
+})->recv;
+
+cmd 'reload';
+
+# Timeout after 0.5s
+my $t;
+$t = AnyEvent->timer(after => 0.5, cb => sub { $cv->send(0); });
+
+ok($cv->recv, 'Mode event received');
+
+exit_gracefully($pid);
+
+done_testing;