diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
index b1283e775..cc88faa6b 100644
--- a/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -172,6 +172,8 @@ Ranked; detail and the full milestone table in [docs/roadmap.md](docs/roadmap.md
 
 ## Progress log
 
+- **2026-10-20 (M3, #3535):** Escape with a menu open closes the menu and keeps the text selection; the next Escape clears it, as before. One keypress used to do both. A synthetic UI regression checks it. Estimates unchanged.
+
 - **2026-10-19 (M14, #3373):** The main menu and its long submenus scroll in short windows, keeping their commands reachable. Estimates unchanged.
 
 - **2026-10-19 (M3, #3387):** Save-prompt shortcuts yield to later consent and utility dialogs; a synthetic UI regression checks that an edited document stays open. Estimates unchanged.
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
index eb9244a28..d83708aa9 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
@@ -2285,7 +2285,8 @@ pub fn shortcuts(view: &mut DocView, ctx: &egui::Context, speed: crate::scroll_s
         view.view_history(true);
     }
     let key = |k| ctx.input(|i| i.key_pressed(k));
-    if key(Key::Escape) {
+    // An open menu takes Escape first and closes; the selection stays for the next one (#3535).
+    if key(Key::Escape) && !egui::Popup::is_any_open(ctx) {
         if view.camera.is_some() || view.camera_done.is_some() {
             view.pending_action = Some(ViewAction::CancelCamera);
         } else if view.selection.is_some() {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_group/text_select.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_group/text_select.rs
index 9ed4e9d5d..d3d40da8d 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_group/text_select.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_group/text_select.rs
@@ -226,6 +226,27 @@ fn selected_text_copy_edit_and_context_menus() {
     assert_eq!(h.state().views[0].selected_text().as_deref(), Some("quick"));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn escape_closes_an_open_menu_before_it_clears_the_selection() {
+    // #3535: one Escape closed the main menu and dropped the selection with it.
+    use egui_kittest::kittest::Queryable;
+    let (mut h, at) = harness(|_| {});
+    click(&mut h, at);
+    click(&mut h, at);
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert_eq!(h.state().views[0].selected_text().as_deref(), Some("quick"));
+    h.get_by_label("Menu").click();
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert!(egui::Popup::is_any_open(&h.ctx), "the menu is open");
+    h.key_press(egui::Key::Escape);
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert!(!egui::Popup::is_any_open(&h.ctx), "Escape closes the menu");
+    assert_eq!(h.state().views[0].selected_text().as_deref(), Some("quick"), "and keeps the selection");
+    h.key_press(egui::Key::Escape);
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert_eq!(h.state().views[0].selected_text(), None, "a second Escape clears it");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn selected_text_copy_command_requires_selection() {
     let (mut h, at) = harness(|_| {});