diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/game_plugin.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/game_plugin.rs
index 9505ef3..290d16b 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/game_plugin.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/game_plugin.rs
@@ -590,9 +590,15 @@ fn handle_restore_prompt(
     if screens.is_empty() {
         return;
     }
-    let key_continue = keys
-        .as_ref()
-        .is_some_and(|k| k.just_pressed(KeyCode::Enter) || k.just_pressed(KeyCode::KeyC));
+    // Esc maps to Continue rather than New Game so a stray dismiss
+    // press preserves the saved game — the data-preserving default is
+    // the safer fallback when a player hits Esc reflexively to "close
+    // this dialog" without reading it.
+    let key_continue = keys.as_ref().is_some_and(|k| {
+        k.just_pressed(KeyCode::Enter)
+            || k.just_pressed(KeyCode::KeyC)
+            || k.just_pressed(KeyCode::Escape)
+    });
     let key_new = keys.as_ref().is_some_and(|k| k.just_pressed(KeyCode::KeyN));
     let click_continue = continue_buttons
         .iter()
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/home_plugin.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/home_plugin.rs
index e2de230..ddae6be 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/home_plugin.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/home_plugin.rs
@@ -333,10 +333,16 @@ fn handle_home_card_click(
 
 fn handle_home_cancel_button(
     mut commands: Commands,
+    keys: Option<Res<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>>,
     cancel_buttons: Query<&Interaction, (With<HomeCancelButton>, Changed<Interaction>)>,
     screens: Query<Entity, With<HomeScreen>>,
 ) {
-    if !cancel_buttons.iter().any(|i| *i == Interaction::Pressed) {
+    if screens.is_empty() {
+        return;
+    }
+    let click = cancel_buttons.iter().any(|i| *i == Interaction::Pressed);
+    let esc = keys.is_some_and(|k| k.just_pressed(KeyCode::Escape));
+    if !click && !esc {
         return;
     }
     for entity in &screens {