diff --git a/static/scripts/app/views/widgets/dropdown.js b/static/scripts/app/views/widgets/dropdown.js
index bb1ca57e61..3703c893e5 100644
--- a/static/scripts/app/views/widgets/dropdown.js
+++ b/static/scripts/app/views/widgets/dropdown.js
@@ -30,6 +30,19 @@ define([
         return true;
     });
 
+    $(document).keydown(function(e) {
+        // ESCAPE key pressed
+        if (e.keyCode == 27) {
+            var view = app.ui.currentDropdown;
+            if (view) {
+                view.hide();
+                if (app.ui.currentHighlightedItem) {
+                    app.ui.currentHighlightedItem.rmHighlight();
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    });
+
     var DropdownView = Backbone.View.extend({
 
         defaultOptions: {
diff --git a/static/scripts/app/views/widgets/popover.js b/static/scripts/app/views/widgets/popover.js
index f6e7e06040..c46bca8084 100644
--- a/static/scripts/app/views/widgets/popover.js
+++ b/static/scripts/app/views/widgets/popover.js
@@ -27,6 +27,16 @@ define([
         return true;
     });
 
+    $(document).keydown(function(e) {
+        // ESCAPE key pressed
+        if (e.keyCode == 27) {
+            var view = app.ui.currentPopover;
+            if (view) {
+                view.hide();
+            }
+        }
+    });
+
     $(window).resize(function() {
         var view = app.ui.currentPopover;
         if (!view) {