diff --git a/scp/js/scp.js b/scp/js/scp.js
index 4297ea965b6cf2704cfe14853b0336ec417e4fb3..07156e3775818df5e3dad5d4e2e9329e8f5a7fd1 100644
--- a/scp/js/scp.js
+++ b/scp/js/scp.js
@@ -371,6 +371,13 @@ $(document).ready(function(){
         return false;
     });
 
+    $(document).keydown(function(e) {        
+        if (e.keyCode == 27) {
+            $('div.dialog').hide();
+            $('#overlay').hide();
+        }  
+    });
+
     /* advanced search */
     $('.dialog#advanced-search').css({
         top  : ($(window).height() / 6),