diff --git a/lib/js/__tests__/index-test.js b/lib/js/__tests__/index-test.js
index 76d66b6..3e4d0f7 100644
--- a/lib/js/__tests__/index-test.js
+++ b/lib/js/__tests__/index-test.js
@@ -16,16 +16,16 @@ test("opening the picker ads backdrop and picker elements to the dom", () => {
 
   const $backdrop = $(".c-scrim");
   const $picker = $(".c-datepicker");
-  
+
   expect($picker).not.toBeNull();
   expect($backdrop).not.toBeNull();
 });
 
 test("closing the picker removes elements from the dom", async () => {
-  const picker = await openPicker()
+  const picker = await openPicker();
   picker.close();
   await delay(300);
-  
+
   const $backdrop = $(".c-scrim");
   const $picker = $(".c-datepicker");
 
@@ -33,6 +33,17 @@ test("closing the picker removes elements from the dom", async () => {
   expect($backdrop).toBeNull();
 });
 
+test.only("the picker closes when the escape key is pressed", async () => {
+  const picker = await openPicker();
+
+  const event = new window.KeyboardEvent('keydown', { which: 27, keyCode: 27 });
+  window.dispatchEvent(event);
+
+  await delay(300);
+  const $picker = $(".c-datepicker")
+  expect($picker).toBeNull();
+});
+
 test("opening the picker with a default time", async () => {
   // time divides 5 minutes; set exactly
   const time = "2017-02-01T17:30:00.000Z";
@@ -126,4 +137,4 @@ test("picker#set quanitizes to the nearest 5 minutes", async () => {
   // test round up
   picker.set("2017-02-01T18:35:04.941Z");
   expect(picker.data().toISOString()).toEqual( "2017-02-01T18:35:00.000Z");
-})
\ No newline at end of file
+})
diff --git a/lib/js/index.js b/lib/js/index.js
index bc4d794..07fc2e3 100644
--- a/lib/js/index.js
+++ b/lib/js/index.js
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import Events from './events';
 
 import '../scss/material-datetime-picker.scss';
 
+const ESC_KEY = 27;
+
 const prefix = 'c-datepicker';
 const defaults = () => ({
   default: moment().startOf('hour'),
@@ -98,10 +100,13 @@ class DateTimePicker extends Events {
     }
 
     this.initializeRome(this.$(`.${this.options.styles.container}`), this.options.dateValidator);
+    this._listenForCloseEvents();
+
     this._show();
   }
 
   close() {
+    this._stopListeningForCloseEvents();
     this._hide();
   }
 
@@ -127,6 +132,21 @@ class DateTimePicker extends Events {
     return this;
   }
 
+  _listenForCloseEvents() {
+    this._onWindowKeypress = (e) => {
+      if (e.which === ESC_KEY) {
+        this.close();
+      }
+    };
+
+    window.addEventListener("keydown", this._onWindowKeypress);
+  }
+
+  _stopListeningForCloseEvents() {
+    window.removeEventListener("keydown", this._onWindowKeypress);
+    this._closeHandler = null;
+  }
+
   delegateEvents() {
     this.$('.js-cancel')
       .addEventListener('click', () => this.clickCancel(), false);