diff --git a/static/js/hotkey.js b/static/js/hotkey.js
index bd866cee9c..dd3d0c24cc 100644
--- a/static/js/hotkey.js
+++ b/static/js/hotkey.js
@@ -214,6 +214,12 @@ export function in_content_editable_widget(e) {
 
 // Returns true if we handled it, false if the browser should.
 export function process_escape_key(e) {
+    if (hashchange.in_recent_topics_hash() && recent_topics.change_focused_element(e, "escape")) {
+        // Recent topics uses escape to make focus from RT search / filters to topics table.
+        // If focus already in table it returns false.
+        return true;
+    }
+
     if (in_content_editable_widget(e)) {
         return false;
     }
@@ -504,7 +510,6 @@ export function process_hotkey(e, hotkey) {
         case "tab":
         case "shift_tab":
         case "open_recent_topics":
-        case "escape":
             if (
                 hashchange.in_recent_topics_hash() &&
                 !popovers.any_active() &&
diff --git a/static/js/recent_topics.js b/static/js/recent_topics.js
index 103d08d798..a29c4ca6d9 100644
--- a/static/js/recent_topics.js
+++ b/static/js/recent_topics.js
@@ -600,6 +600,9 @@ export function change_focused_element(e, input_key) {
                 current_focus_elem = $("#recent_topics_search");
                 return true;
             case "escape":
+                if (current_focus_elem === "table") {
+                    return false;
+                }
                 set_table_focus(row_focus, col_focus);
                 return true;
         }
@@ -627,12 +630,20 @@ export function change_focused_element(e, input_key) {
             case "down_arrow":
                 set_table_focus(row_focus, col_focus);
                 return true;
+            case "escape":
+                if (current_focus_elem === "table") {
+                    return false;
+                }
+                set_table_focus(row_focus, col_focus);
+                return true;
         }
     } else if (current_focus_elem === "table") {
         // For arrowing around the table of topics, we implement left/right
         // wraparound.  Going off the top or the bottom takes one
         // to the navigation at the top (see set_table_focus).
         switch (input_key) {
+            case "escape":
+                return false;
             case "open_recent_topics":
                 set_default_focus();
                 return true;
@@ -663,8 +674,9 @@ export function change_focused_element(e, input_key) {
         set_table_focus(row_focus, col_focus);
         return true;
     }
-    if (current_focus_elem) {
+    if (current_focus_elem && input_key !== "escape") {
         current_focus_elem.trigger("focus");
+        return true;
     }
 
     return false;