diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt b/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
index efac152e4d03c2..0aede29d648991 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ Released on 2019-12-16?
 ======================================
 
 
+bpo-38944: Excape key now closes IDLE completion windows.  Patch by
+Johnny Najera.
+
 bpo-38862: 'Strip Trailing Whitespace' on the Format menu removes extra
 newlines at the end of non-shell files.
 
diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/autocomplete_w.py b/Lib/idlelib/autocomplete_w.py
index 5035e067392e5f..f20b6330997886 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/autocomplete_w.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/autocomplete_w.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # before the default specific IDLE function
 KEYPRESS_SEQUENCES = ("<Key>", "<Key-BackSpace>", "<Key-Return>", "<Key-Tab>",
                       "<Key-Up>", "<Key-Down>", "<Key-Home>", "<Key-End>",
-                      "<Key-Prior>", "<Key-Next>")
+                      "<Key-Prior>", "<Key-Next>", "<Key-Escape>")
 KEYRELEASE_VIRTUAL_EVENT_NAME = "<<autocompletewindow-keyrelease>>"
 KEYRELEASE_SEQUENCE = "<KeyRelease>"
 LISTUPDATE_SEQUENCE = "<B1-ButtonRelease>"
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/IDLE/2019-11-30-12-10-36.bpo-38944._3xjKG.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/IDLE/2019-11-30-12-10-36.bpo-38944._3xjKG.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..38084fafd2f561
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/IDLE/2019-11-30-12-10-36.bpo-38944._3xjKG.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Excape key now closes IDLE completion windows.  Patch by Johnny Najera.