diff --git a/src/scripts/index.js b/src/scripts/index.js
index a3412a6..a49eb8b 100644
--- a/src/scripts/index.js
+++ b/src/scripts/index.js
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ function recursiveAdaptWidgets(prefix, element, user) {
   });
 }
 
+// auxiliary function closes the user profile menu
+function closeUserControls() {
+  let userControls = document.querySelector('#user-controls');
+  if (userControls) userControls.removeAttribute("open");
+}
+
 document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function (event) {
   const menuWrappers = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('.menu-wrapper'));
   const rightMenus = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('nav.jsRightMenu'));
@@ -83,10 +89,13 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function (event) {
 
   // Document -> close menu
   document.addEventListener("click", event => {
-    if (!event.target.closest('#user-controls')) {
-      let userControls = this.querySelector('#user-controls');
-      if (userControls) userControls.removeAttribute("open");
-    }
+    if (!event.target.closest('#user-controls')) closeUserControls();
   });
 
+  // listen for keypress
+  document.onkeydown = (e) => {
+    e = e || window.event;
+    if (e.key === "Escape" || e.key === "Esc") closeUserControls();
+  };
+
 });
\ No newline at end of file