diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/chrome.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/chrome.rs
index fc7551780..c5023c5fd 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/chrome.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/chrome.rs
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ fn undo_list_row_id(i: usize) -> egui::Id {
     undo_list_button_id().with(("row", i))
 }
 
+/// The footer Cancel row's id (#1903).
+pub(crate) fn undo_list_cancel_id() -> egui::Id {
+    undo_list_button_id().with("cancel")
+}
+
 /// The Undo list's rows, newest first: each step named as the Undo button's tooltip names it.
 pub(crate) fn undo_list_rows(app: &WordApp) -> Vec<String> {
     app.session.undo_history().into_iter().map(|l| tl!(l).to_string()).collect()
@@ -147,8 +152,21 @@ fn undo_list(ui: &mut Ui, app: &mut WordApp) {
         }
     });
     ui.separator();
-    let footer = undo_list_footer(hovered.map_or(0, |h| h + 1));
-    ui.vertical_centered(|ui| ui.label(egui::RichText::new(footer).font(regular(12.0)).color(t.text)));
+    let n = hovered.map_or(0, |h| h + 1);
+    if n == 0 {
+        // Cancel is a real row: it closes the popup without undoing anything (#1903).
+        let (r, _) = ui.allocate_exact_size(vec2(ui.available_width(), ROW), Sense::hover());
+        let resp = ui.interact(r, undo_list_cancel_id(), Sense::click());
+        if resp.hovered() {
+            ui.painter().rect_filled(r, 0.0, t.selection);
+        }
+        ui.painter().text(pos2(r.min.x + 6.0, r.center().y), Align2::LEFT_CENTER, undo_list_footer(0), regular(12.0), t.text);
+        if resp.clicked() {
+            ui.close();
+        }
+    } else {
+        ui.vertical_centered(|ui| ui.label(egui::RichText::new(undo_list_footer(n)).font(regular(12.0)).color(t.text)));
+    }
     if let Some(i) = clicked {
         let _ = app.run("edit.undoTo", json!({"count": i + 1}));
         ui.close();
@@ -680,6 +698,29 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    /// #1903: the footer's Cancel row closes the Undo list without undoing anything.
+    #[test]
+    fn undo_list_cancel_closes_without_undoing() {
+        let mut a = WordApp::new(wordcraft_engine::Session::new(wordcraft_doc::Document::new()), crate::Services::default());
+        a.run("text.insert", json!({"text": "Hello"})).unwrap();
+        let before: Vec<String> = a.session.undo_history().into_iter().map(str::to_string).collect();
+        assert!(!before.is_empty());
+
+        let (ctx, mut n) = (ctx(), 0);
+        frame(&ctx, &mut n, vec![], &mut a);
+        let arrow = ctx.read_response(undo_list_button_id()).unwrap();
+        let popup = egui::Popup::default_response_id(&arrow);
+        click(&ctx, &mut n, arrow.rect.center(), &mut a);
+        assert!(egui::Popup::is_id_open(&ctx, popup), "the arrow opens the Undo list");
+        frame(&ctx, &mut n, vec![], &mut a);
+        let cancel = ctx.read_response(undo_list_cancel_id()).expect("Cancel is drawn");
+        click(&ctx, &mut n, cancel.rect.center(), &mut a);
+        let after: Vec<String> = a.session.undo_history().into_iter().map(str::to_string).collect();
+        assert_eq!(after, before, "nothing undone");
+        frame(&ctx, &mut n, vec![], &mut a);
+        assert!(!egui::Popup::is_id_open(&ctx, popup), "Cancel closes the list");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn mac_title_bar_centres_and_clears_the_traffic_lights() {
         // The lights are centred in the bar, and content keeps the same gap after them.