diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete.js b/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete.js
index 853de21ae4..2618597b14 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete.js
@@ -110,8 +110,10 @@ $.widget( "ui.autocomplete", {
 					self.menu.select( event );
 					break;
 				case keyCode.ESCAPE:
-					self._value( self.term );
-					self.close( event );
+					if ( self.menu.element.is(":visible") ) {
+						self._value( self.term );
+						self.close( event );
+					}
 					break;
 				default:
 					// search timeout should be triggered before the input value is changed