diff --git a/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapCanvas.jsx b/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapCanvas.jsx
index 9cb6e21..9b0f167 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapCanvas.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapCanvas.jsx
@@ -146,6 +146,13 @@ export default function LocationMapCanvas({
   };
 
   const handleObjectKeyDown = (event, object) => {
+    if (event.key === "Escape" && (mode === "view" || canEditObjects)) {
+      event.stopPropagation();
+      event.preventDefault();
+      setSelectedObjectKey(null);
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (["Enter", " ", "Spacebar"].includes(event.key)) {
       event.stopPropagation();
       event.preventDefault();
diff --git a/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts
index 9fad3bd..6d613af 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts
@@ -2541,6 +2541,12 @@ test("viewer map areas are keyboard selectable", async ({ page }) => {
   await expect(bakeryArea).toHaveAttribute("aria-pressed", "false");
   await expect(page.locator(".location-map-sheet-header strong")).toHaveText("Frozen Foods");
   await expect(page.locator(".location-map-sheet-count")).toHaveText("0 shown");
+
+  await page.keyboard.press("Escape");
+  await expect(frozenArea).toBeFocused();
+  await expect(frozenArea).toHaveAttribute("aria-pressed", "false");
+  await expect(page.locator(".location-map-sheet-header strong")).toHaveText("Map Details");
+  await expect(page.getByLabel("Map summary")).toBeVisible();
 });
 
 test("mobile fit zoom fits the map into the visible canvas", async ({ page }) => {