diff --git a/examples/DemoRunner/Source/Demos/JUCEDemos.h b/examples/DemoRunner/Source/Demos/JUCEDemos.h
index 4faf1c6107..0d18838d87 100644
--- a/examples/DemoRunner/Source/Demos/JUCEDemos.h
+++ b/examples/DemoRunner/Source/Demos/JUCEDemos.h
@@ -75,3 +75,4 @@ CodeEditorComponent::ColourScheme getLightColourScheme();
 extern std::unique_ptr<AudioDeviceManager> sharedAudioDeviceManager;
 
 AudioDeviceManager& getSharedAudioDeviceManager (int numInputChannels = -1, int numOutputChannels = -1);
+ApplicationCommandManager& getGlobalCommandManager();
diff --git a/examples/DemoRunner/Source/Main.cpp b/examples/DemoRunner/Source/Main.cpp
index 59922b2b59..c0114a999a 100644
--- a/examples/DemoRunner/Source/Main.cpp
+++ b/examples/DemoRunner/Source/Main.cpp
@@ -111,8 +111,10 @@ public:
     void shutdown() override             { mainWindow = nullptr; }
 
     //==============================================================================
-    void systemRequestedQuit() override                                 { quit(); }
-    void anotherInstanceStarted (const String&) override                {}
+    void systemRequestedQuit() override                   { quit(); }
+    void anotherInstanceStarted (const String&) override  {}
+
+    ApplicationCommandManager& getGlobalCommandManager()  { return commandManager; }
 
 private:
     class MainAppWindow    : public DocumentWindow
@@ -161,8 +163,14 @@ private:
     };
 
     std::unique_ptr<MainAppWindow> mainWindow;
+    ApplicationCommandManager commandManager;
 };
 
+ApplicationCommandManager& getGlobalCommandManager()
+{
+    return dynamic_cast<DemoRunnerApplication*> (JUCEApplication::getInstance())->getGlobalCommandManager();
+}
+
 //==============================================================================
 // This macro generates the main() routine that launches the app.
 START_JUCE_APPLICATION (DemoRunnerApplication)
diff --git a/examples/GUI/KeyMappingsDemo.h b/examples/GUI/KeyMappingsDemo.h
index 1fc66ecaaf..e50e360c73 100644
--- a/examples/GUI/KeyMappingsDemo.h
+++ b/examples/GUI/KeyMappingsDemo.h
@@ -249,7 +249,12 @@ public:
     }
 
 private:
+   #if JUCE_DEMO_RUNNER
+    ApplicationCommandManager& commandManager = getGlobalCommandManager();
+   #else
     ApplicationCommandManager commandManager;
+   #endif
+
     KeyMappingEditorComponent keyMappingEditor  { *commandManager.getKeyMappings(), true};
 
     KeyPressTarget keyTarget;
diff --git a/examples/GUI/MenusDemo.h b/examples/GUI/MenusDemo.h
index f56f61ca22..844c525d45 100644
--- a/examples/GUI/MenusDemo.h
+++ b/examples/GUI/MenusDemo.h
@@ -157,6 +157,10 @@ public:
         setApplicationCommandManagerToWatch (&commandManager);
         commandManager.registerAllCommandsForTarget (this);
 
+        // this ensures that commands invoked on the DemoRunner application are correctly
+        // forwarded to this demo
+        commandManager.setFirstCommandTarget (this);
+
         // this lets the command manager use keypresses that arrive in our window to send out commands
         addKeyListener (commandManager.getKeyMappings());
 
@@ -174,6 +178,8 @@ public:
        #if JUCE_MAC
         MenuBarModel::setMacMainMenu (nullptr);
        #endif
+
+        commandManager.setFirstCommandTarget (nullptr);
     }
 
     void resized() override
@@ -316,7 +322,11 @@ public:
     }
 
 private:
+   #if JUCE_DEMO_RUNNER
+    ApplicationCommandManager& commandManager = getGlobalCommandManager();
+   #else
     ApplicationCommandManager commandManager;
+   #endif
 
     std::unique_ptr<MenuBarComponent> menuBar;
     MenuBarPosition menuBarPosition = MenuBarPosition::window;