diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bcd48a95..f2399c15 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ had changed in them - which is the gap this file exists to close.
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- **Menus close on Escape or a click outside them.** A dropdown stayed open
+  until its title was clicked again or an item picked. A click outside now
+  closes it without acting on whatever was underneath.
 - **The Nodes panel shows its filter once.** The panel drew the table's
   filter in its own box and the table drew it again underneath, so typing
   showed the text twice with two carets.
diff --git a/internal/ui/shell/interact_test.go b/internal/ui/shell/interact_test.go
index ae7bb3db..c50fc263 100644
--- a/internal/ui/shell/interact_test.go
+++ b/internal/ui/shell/interact_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	"gioui.org/f32"
 	"gioui.org/io/input"
+	"gioui.org/io/key"
 	"gioui.org/io/pointer"
 	"gioui.org/layout"
 	"gioui.org/op"
@@ -141,3 +142,49 @@ func TestClickingAViewTabSwitchesTheView(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("the view did not change from %v", before)
 	}
 }
+
+// Escape closes an open menu (#769).
+func TestEscapeClosesAMenu(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	h.sh.SetMenu("View", []MenuItem{{Label: "Something", Action: "x"}})
+	h.frame()
+	h.click(f32.Pt(float32(h.sh.menus[1].x)+6, 8))
+	if h.sh.openMenu != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("the menu did not open: %d", h.sh.openMenu)
+	}
+	h.r.Queue(key.Event{Name: key.NameEscape, State: key.Press})
+	h.frame()
+	if h.sh.openMenu != -1 {
+		t.Fatalf("Escape left menu %d open", h.sh.openMenu)
+	}
+}
+
+// A press anywhere outside an open menu closes it, and a press on another
+// title moves to that menu instead (#769).
+func TestAClickOutsideClosesAMenu(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	h.sh.OnMenu = func(a string) { h.actions = append(h.actions, a) }
+	h.sh.SetMenu("View", []MenuItem{{Label: "Something", Action: "x", Section: "One"}})
+	h.sh.SetMenu("Simulation", []MenuItem{{Label: "Else", Action: "y"}})
+	h.frame()
+	h.click(f32.Pt(float32(h.sh.menus[1].x)+6, 8))
+	if h.sh.openMenu != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("the menu did not open: %d", h.sh.openMenu)
+	}
+	// Inside the dropdown, on its heading: stays open.
+	h.click(f32.Pt(float32(h.sh.menus[1].x)+20, float32(h.th.RowHeight())+12))
+	if h.sh.openMenu != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("a press inside the dropdown closed it")
+	}
+	h.click(f32.Pt(float32(h.sh.menus[2].x)+6, 8))
+	if h.sh.openMenu != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("pressing the next title left %d open, want 2", h.sh.openMenu)
+	}
+	h.click(f32.Pt(900, 600))
+	if h.sh.openMenu != -1 {
+		t.Fatalf("a press in the body left menu %d open", h.sh.openMenu)
+	}
+	if len(h.actions) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("closing the menu ran %v", h.actions)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/ui/shell/menu.go b/internal/ui/shell/menu.go
index 9a886d07..a6b86968 100644
--- a/internal/ui/shell/menu.go
+++ b/internal/ui/shell/menu.go
@@ -211,6 +211,10 @@ func (sh *Shell) menuDrop(t *theme.Theme, gtx layout.Context) {
 	if len(m.items) == 0 {
 		return
 	}
+	if sh.menuDismissed(gtx) {
+		sh.openMenu = -1
+		return
+	}
 	for i := range m.items {
 		if m.items[i].click.Clicked(gtx) {
 			sh.openMenu = -1
@@ -348,8 +352,18 @@ func (sh *Shell) menuDrop(t *theme.Theme, gtx layout.Context) {
 	if x+box.X > gtx.Constraints.Max.X {
 		x = gtx.Constraints.Max.X - box.X
 	}
-	off := op.Offset(image.Pt(x, gtx.Dp(t.RowHeight()))).Push(gtx.Ops)
+	top := gtx.Dp(t.RowHeight())
+	// The scrim: everything below the bar, so a press anywhere else closes
+	// the menu. The bar itself stays live, so pressing another title moves
+	// to that menu rather than only closing this one.
+	scrim := clip.Rect{Min: image.Pt(0, top), Max: gtx.Constraints.Max}.Push(gtx.Ops)
+	event.Op(gtx.Ops, &sh.menuScrim)
+	scrim.Pop()
+	off := op.Offset(image.Pt(x, top)).Push(gtx.Ops)
 	defer off.Pop()
+	area := clip.Rect{Max: box}.Push(gtx.Ops)
+	event.Op(gtx.Ops, &sh.menuBox)
+	area.Pop()
 	paint.FillShape(gtx.Ops, theme.Alpha(t.P.Panel, 0.98), clip.Rect{Max: box}.Op())
 	comp.Border(gtx, box, 2, 1, t.P.Rule)
 	in := op.Offset(image.Pt(pad, pad)).Push(gtx.Ops)
diff --git a/internal/ui/shell/menudismiss.go b/internal/ui/shell/menudismiss.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a91c4497
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/ui/shell/menudismiss.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+// Closing an open menu without choosing anything from it.
+package shell
+
+import (
+	"gioui.org/io/key"
+	"gioui.org/io/pointer"
+	"gioui.org/layout"
+)
+
+// menuDismissed reports whether the open menu was asked to close: Escape, or a
+// press outside it. The press is taken by the scrim rather than passed on, so
+// a click that closes a menu does not also act on the map or panel beneath.
+func (sh *Shell) menuDismissed(gtx layout.Context) bool {
+	gone := false
+	for {
+		ev, ok := gtx.Event(key.Filter{Name: key.NameEscape})
+		if !ok {
+			break
+		}
+		if ke, ok := ev.(key.Event); ok && ke.State == key.Press {
+			gone = true
+		}
+	}
+	for {
+		ev, ok := gtx.Event(pointer.Filter{Target: &sh.menuScrim, Kinds: pointer.Press})
+		if !ok {
+			break
+		}
+		if pe, ok := ev.(pointer.Event); ok && pe.Kind == pointer.Press {
+			gone = true
+		}
+	}
+	// Presses on the box itself are drained and ignored: they are what keeps
+	// a click on a heading or the padding from falling through to the scrim.
+	for {
+		if _, ok := gtx.Event(pointer.Filter{Target: &sh.menuBox, Kinds: pointer.Press}); !ok {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	return gone
+}
diff --git a/internal/ui/shell/shell.go b/internal/ui/shell/shell.go
index bbfe37d7..f59f03bf 100644
--- a/internal/ui/shell/shell.go
+++ b/internal/ui/shell/shell.go
@@ -53,7 +53,11 @@ type Shell struct {
 	// openMenu is which menu is showing, or -1. Not zero: zero is the first
 	// menu, and a zero value that means "File is open" opens it on launch.
 	openMenu int
-	tr       transport
+	// menuScrim and menuBox are the pointer targets an open dropdown lays
+	// down: the scrim over the window below the bar, which closes it, and the
+	// dropdown's own box, which keeps a press on a heading from reaching it.
+	menuScrim, menuBox struct{}
+	tr                 transport
 	// rfChip is the counts line's physics toggle.
 	rfChip widget.Clickable
 	snap   *state.Snapshot