diff --git a/core/java/android/text/method/QwertyKeyListener.java b/core/java/android/text/method/QwertyKeyListener.java
index b4a1e8cfe9434..c43864d0f215e 100644
--- a/core/java/android/text/method/QwertyKeyListener.java
+++ b/core/java/android/text/method/QwertyKeyListener.java
@@ -360,6 +360,15 @@ public class QwertyKeyListener extends BaseKeyListener {
                     return super.onKeyDown(view, content, keyCode, event);
                 }
 
+                return true;
+            }
+        } else if (keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_ESCAPE && event.hasNoModifiers()) {
+            // If user is in the process of composing with a dead key, and
+            // presses Escape, cancel it. We need special handling because
+            // the Escape key will not produce a Unicode character
+            if (activeStart == selStart && activeEnd == selEnd) {
+                Selection.setSelection(content, selEnd);
+                content.removeSpan(TextKeyListener.ACTIVE);
                 return true;
             }
         }