diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin.rs
index cf81912..808cf18 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin.rs
@@ -281,6 +281,13 @@ pub struct MenuButton;
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
 pub struct MenuPopover;
 
+/// Shared marker placed on both [`MenuPopover`] and [`ModesPopover`] entities
+/// while they are open. External systems (e.g. `PausePlugin`) query this to
+/// determine whether a HUD popover is currently visible without importing the
+/// individual popover types.
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+pub struct HudPopoverOpen;
+
 /// Fullscreen transparent backdrop spawned behind the [`MenuPopover`].
 /// Pressing it (tap anywhere outside the popover) light-dismisses the menu.
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
@@ -340,6 +347,9 @@ impl Plugin for HudPlugin {
             .add_message::<WinStreakMilestoneEvent>()
             .init_resource::<PreviousScore>()
             .init_resource::<HudActionFade>()
+            // Escape-close handlers for popovers read this; init defensively
+            // so HudPlugin works under MinimalPlugins in tests.
+            .init_resource::<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>()
             // WindowResized is registered by table_plugin; re-register
             // defensively so the HUD plugin works standalone in tests.
             .add_message::<WindowResized>()
@@ -376,9 +386,11 @@ impl Plugin for HudPlugin {
                     handle_modes_button,
                     handle_mode_option_click,
                     handle_modes_backdrop_click,
+                    close_modes_popover_on_escape,
                     handle_menu_button,
                     handle_menu_option_click,
                     handle_menu_backdrop_click,
+                    close_menu_popover_on_escape,
                     paint_action_buttons,
                 ),
             )
@@ -940,6 +952,7 @@ fn spawn_modes_popover(
     commands
         .spawn((
             ModesPopover,
+            HudPopoverOpen,
             Node {
                 position_type: PositionType::Absolute,
                 right: VAL_SPACE_3,
@@ -1120,6 +1133,7 @@ fn spawn_menu_popover(commands: &mut Commands, font_res: Option<&FontResource>)
     commands
         .spawn((
             MenuPopover,
+            HudPopoverOpen,
             Node {
                 position_type: PositionType::Absolute,
                 right: VAL_SPACE_3,
@@ -1223,6 +1237,39 @@ fn handle_menu_option_click(
         }
 }
 
+/// Despawns the [`ModesPopover`] and its backdrop when Escape / Android back
+/// is pressed while the popover is open. Runs so `PausePlugin`'s guard (which
+/// checks [`HudPopoverOpen`]) sees an empty world and stays idle.
+fn close_modes_popover_on_escape(
+    keys: Res<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>,
+    popovers: Query<Entity, With<ModesPopover>>,
+    backdrops: Query<Entity, With<ModesPopoverBackdrop>>,
+    mut commands: Commands,
+) {
+    if !keys.just_pressed(KeyCode::Escape) || popovers.is_empty() {
+        return;
+    }
+    for e in popovers.iter().chain(backdrops.iter()) {
+        commands.entity(e).despawn();
+    }
+}
+
+/// Despawns the [`MenuPopover`] and its backdrop when Escape / Android back
+/// is pressed while the popover is open.
+fn close_menu_popover_on_escape(
+    keys: Res<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>,
+    popovers: Query<Entity, With<MenuPopover>>,
+    backdrops: Query<Entity, With<MenuPopoverBackdrop>>,
+    mut commands: Commands,
+) {
+    if !keys.just_pressed(KeyCode::Escape) || popovers.is_empty() {
+        return;
+    }
+    for e in popovers.iter().chain(backdrops.iter()) {
+        commands.entity(e).despawn();
+    }
+}
+
 /// Despawns the [`ModesPopover`] and its backdrop when the player taps
 /// anywhere outside the panel.
 fn handle_modes_backdrop_click(
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/pause_plugin.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/pause_plugin.rs
index f84f373..14b5d2c 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/pause_plugin.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/pause_plugin.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ use crate::resources::{DragState, GameStateResource};
 use crate::selection_plugin::{SelectionKeySet, SelectionState};
 use crate::settings_plugin::{SettingsChangedEvent, SettingsResource, SettingsStoragePath};
 use crate::stats_plugin::StatsResource;
+use crate::hud_plugin::HudPopoverOpen;
 use crate::ui_modal::{
     spawn_modal, spawn_modal_actions, spawn_modal_body_text, spawn_modal_button,
     spawn_modal_header, ButtonVariant, ModalScrim,
@@ -137,6 +138,7 @@ struct PauseModalQueries<'w, 's> {
     forfeit_screens: Query<'w, 's, Entity, With<ForfeitConfirmScreen>>,
     game_over_screens: Query<'w, 's, Entity, With<GameOverScreen>>,
     other_modal_scrims: Query<'w, 's, Entity, (With<ModalScrim>, Without<PauseScreen>)>,
+    open_hud_popovers: Query<'w, 's, Entity, With<HudPopoverOpen>>,
 }
 
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
@@ -162,6 +164,7 @@ fn toggle_pause(
         forfeit_screens,
         game_over_screens,
         other_modal_scrims,
+        open_hud_popovers,
     } = modal_queries;
 
     // Either Esc or a click on the HUD "Pause" button (which fires
@@ -186,6 +189,12 @@ fn toggle_pause(
     if !other_modal_scrims.is_empty() {
         return;
     }
+    // A HUD popover (Menu or Modes dropdown) is open — the popover's own
+    // Escape handler (in HudPlugin) will close it this frame. Don't also
+    // spawn the pause overlay on top of the closing popover.
+    if !open_hud_popovers.is_empty() {
+        return;
+    }
     // If a replay is currently playing, let `replay_overlay::handle_stop_keyboard`
     // own the Esc press — that handler stops the replay. Without this guard a
     // single Esc both stops the replay AND opens the pause modal on top of the