diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/contextMenu.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/contextMenu.js
index 44f11c87d..bebd178a4 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/contextMenu.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/contextMenu.js
@@ -192,16 +192,12 @@ RED.contextMenu = (function() {
             disposeMenu()
         });
         menu.show();
-
-        // menu.show({
-        //     target: $('#red-ui-main-container'),
-        //     x: options.x,
-        //     y: options.y
-        // })
-
+        // set focus to first item so that pressing escape key closes the menu
+        $("#red-ui-workspace-context-menu :first(ul) > a").trigger("focus")
 
     }
-
+    // Allow escape key hook and other editor events to close context menu
+    RED.keyboard.add("red-ui-workspace-context-menu", "escape", function () { RED.contextMenu.hide() })
     return {
         show: show,
         hide: disposeMenu