diff --git a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_window.cc b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_window.cc
index 6748c9c0dd1..9a4ae5850dc 100644
--- a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_window.cc
+++ b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_window.cc
@@ -853,6 +853,10 @@ void Window::RefreshTouchBarItem(const std::string& item_id) {
   window_->RefreshTouchBarItem(item_id);
 }
 
+void Window::SetEscapeTouchBarItem(const mate::PersistentDictionary& item) {
+  window_->SetEscapeTouchBarItem(item);
+}
+
 int32_t Window::ID() const {
   return weak_map_id();
 }
@@ -975,6 +979,7 @@ void Window::BuildPrototype(v8::Isolate* isolate,
       .SetMethod("setVibrancy", &Window::SetVibrancy)
       .SetMethod("_setTouchBarItems", &Window::SetTouchBar)
       .SetMethod("_refreshTouchBarItem", &Window::RefreshTouchBarItem)
+      .SetMethod("_setEscapeTouchBarItem", &Window::SetEscapeTouchBarItem)
 #if defined(OS_WIN)
       .SetMethod("hookWindowMessage", &Window::HookWindowMessage)
       .SetMethod("isWindowMessageHooked", &Window::IsWindowMessageHooked)
diff --git a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_window.h b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_window.h
index f30baf79d4d..24afec354df 100644
--- a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_window.h
+++ b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_window.h
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ class Window : public mate::TrackableObject<Window>,
   void SetVibrancy(mate::Arguments* args);
   void SetTouchBar(const std::vector<mate::PersistentDictionary>& items);
   void RefreshTouchBarItem(const std::string& item_id);
+  void SetEscapeTouchBarItem(const mate::PersistentDictionary& item);
 
   v8::Local<v8::Value> WebContents(v8::Isolate* isolate);
 
diff --git a/atom/browser/native_window.cc b/atom/browser/native_window.cc
index 90a823f80b6..af32a2e8a85 100644
--- a/atom/browser/native_window.cc
+++ b/atom/browser/native_window.cc
@@ -347,6 +347,10 @@ void NativeWindow::SetTouchBar(
 void NativeWindow::RefreshTouchBarItem(const std::string& item_id) {
 }
 
+void NativeWindow::SetEscapeTouchBarItem(
+    const mate::PersistentDictionary& item) {
+}
+
 void NativeWindow::FocusOnWebView() {
   web_contents()->GetRenderViewHost()->GetWidget()->Focus();
 }
diff --git a/atom/browser/native_window.h b/atom/browser/native_window.h
index 941f5849a65..227e28c1e46 100644
--- a/atom/browser/native_window.h
+++ b/atom/browser/native_window.h
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ class NativeWindow : public base::SupportsUserData,
   virtual void SetTouchBar(
       const std::vector<mate::PersistentDictionary>& items);
   virtual void RefreshTouchBarItem(const std::string& item_id);
+  virtual void SetEscapeTouchBarItem(const mate::PersistentDictionary& item);
 
   // Webview APIs.
   virtual void FocusOnWebView();
diff --git a/atom/browser/native_window_mac.h b/atom/browser/native_window_mac.h
index bd34993fb11..a535cdb4bef 100644
--- a/atom/browser/native_window_mac.h
+++ b/atom/browser/native_window_mac.h
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ class NativeWindowMac : public NativeWindow,
   void SetTouchBar(
       const std::vector<mate::PersistentDictionary>& items) override;
   void RefreshTouchBarItem(const std::string& item_id) override;
+  void SetEscapeTouchBarItem(const mate::PersistentDictionary& item) override;
 
   // content::RenderWidgetHost::InputEventObserver:
   void OnInputEvent(const blink::WebInputEvent& event) override;
diff --git a/atom/browser/native_window_mac.mm b/atom/browser/native_window_mac.mm
index 621e786ddc0..c3ca24a3d41 100644
--- a/atom/browser/native_window_mac.mm
+++ b/atom/browser/native_window_mac.mm
@@ -368,6 +368,7 @@ enum {
 - (void)enableWindowButtonsOffset;
 - (void)resetTouchBar:(const std::vector<mate::PersistentDictionary>&)settings;
 - (void)refreshTouchBarItem:(const std::string&)item_id;
+- (void)setEscapeTouchBarItem:(const mate::PersistentDictionary&)item;
 
 @end
 
@@ -410,6 +411,11 @@ enum {
     return nil;
 }
 
+- (void)setEscapeTouchBarItem:(const mate::PersistentDictionary&)item {
+  if (atom_touch_bar_ && self.touchBar)
+    [atom_touch_bar_ setEscapeTouchBarItem:item forTouchBar:self.touchBar];
+}
+
 // NSWindow overrides.
 
 - (void)swipeWithEvent:(NSEvent *)event {
@@ -1417,6 +1423,10 @@ void NativeWindowMac::RefreshTouchBarItem(const std::string& item_id) {
   [window_ refreshTouchBarItem:item_id];
 }
 
+void NativeWindowMac::SetEscapeTouchBarItem(const mate::PersistentDictionary& item) {
+  [window_ setEscapeTouchBarItem:item];
+}
+
 void NativeWindowMac::OnInputEvent(const blink::WebInputEvent& event) {
   switch (event.type) {
     case blink::WebInputEvent::GestureScrollBegin:
diff --git a/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/atom_touch_bar.h b/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/atom_touch_bar.h
index 29cdf79b255..26662cf4850 100644
--- a/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/atom_touch_bar.h
+++ b/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/atom_touch_bar.h
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 - (NSTouchBar*)touchBarFromItemIdentifiers:(NSMutableArray*)items;
 - (NSMutableArray*)identifiersFromSettings:(const std::vector<mate::PersistentDictionary>&)settings;
 - (void)refreshTouchBarItem:(NSTouchBar*)touchBar id:(const std::string&)item_id;
+- (void)addNonDefaultTouchBarItems:(const std::vector<mate::PersistentDictionary>&)items;
+- (void)setEscapeTouchBarItem:(const mate::PersistentDictionary&)item forTouchBar:(NSTouchBar*)touchBar;
 
 
 - (NSString*)idFromIdentifier:(NSString*)identifier withPrefix:(NSString*)prefix;
diff --git a/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/atom_touch_bar.mm b/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/atom_touch_bar.mm
index 69926684b67..3a8037b1c5f 100644
--- a/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/atom_touch_bar.mm
+++ b/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/atom_touch_bar.mm
@@ -145,7 +145,25 @@ static NSString* const ImageScrubberItemIdentifier = @"scrubber.image.item";
   } else if (item_type == "scrubber") {
     [self updateScrubber:(NSCustomTouchBarItem*)item withSettings:settings];
   }
+}
 
+- (void)addNonDefaultTouchBarItems:(const std::vector<mate::PersistentDictionary>&)items {
+  [self identifiersFromSettings:items];
+}
+
+- (void)setEscapeTouchBarItem:(const mate::PersistentDictionary&)item forTouchBar:(NSTouchBar*)touchBar {
+  std::string type;
+  std::string item_id;
+  NSTouchBarItemIdentifier identifier = nil;
+  if (item.Get("type", &type) && item.Get("id", &item_id)) {
+    identifier = [self identifierFromID:item_id type:type];
+  }
+  if (identifier) {
+    [self addNonDefaultTouchBarItems:{ item }];
+    touchBar.escapeKeyReplacementItemIdentifier = identifier;
+  } else {
+    touchBar.escapeKeyReplacementItemIdentifier = nil;
+  }
 }
 
 - (void)buttonAction:(id)sender {
diff --git a/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/touch_bar_forward_declarations.h b/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/touch_bar_forward_declarations.h
index 57d5bd7453b..6fe7c820a1c 100644
--- a/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/touch_bar_forward_declarations.h
+++ b/atom/browser/ui/cocoa/touch_bar_forward_declarations.h
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ static const NSTouchBarItemIdentifier NSTouchBarItemIdentifierOtherItemsProxy =
 @property(copy) NSArray* defaultItemIdentifiers;
 @property(copy, readonly) NSArray* itemIdentifiers;
 @property(copy, nullable) NSTouchBarItemIdentifier principalItemIdentifier;
+@property(copy, nullable) NSTouchBarItemIdentifier escapeKeyReplacementItemIdentifier;
 @property(copy) NSSet* templateItems;
 @property(nullable, weak) id<NSTouchBarDelegate> delegate;
 
diff --git a/docs/api/touch-bar.md b/docs/api/touch-bar.md
index 7eb2eb0209b..7ac578da46d 100644
--- a/docs/api/touch-bar.md
+++ b/docs/api/touch-bar.md
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@
 
 Process: [Main](../tutorial/quick-start.md#main-process)
 
-### `new TouchBar(items)` _Experimental_
+### `new TouchBar(options)` _Experimental_
 
-* `items` ([TouchBarButton](touch-bar-button.md) | [TouchBarColorPicker](touch-bar-color-picker.md) | [TouchBarGroup](touch-bar-group.md) | [TouchBarLabel](touch-bar-label.md) | [TouchBarPopover](touch-bar-popover.md) | [TouchBarSlider](touch-bar-slider.md) | [TouchBarSpacer](touch-bar-spacer.md))[]
+* `options` - Object
+  * `items` ([TouchBarButton](touch-bar-button.md) | [TouchBarColorPicker](touch-bar-color-picker.md) | [TouchBarGroup](touch-bar-group.md) | [TouchBarLabel](touch-bar-label.md) | [TouchBarPopover](touch-bar-popover.md) | [TouchBarScrubber](touch-bar-scrubber.md) | [TouchBarSegmentedControl](touch-bar-segmented-control.md) | [TouchBarSlider](touch-bar-slider.md) | [TouchBarSpacer](touch-bar-spacer.md))[]
+  * `escapeItem` ([TouchBarButton](touch-bar-button.md) | [TouchBarColorPicker](touch-bar-color-picker.md) | [TouchBarGroup](touch-bar-group.md) | [TouchBarLabel](touch-bar-label.md) | [TouchBarPopover](touch-bar-popover.md) | [TouchBarScrubber](touch-bar-scrubber.md) | [TouchBarSegmentedControl](touch-bar-segmented-control.md) | [TouchBarSlider](touch-bar-slider.md) | [TouchBarSpacer](touch-bar-spacer.md)) (optional)
 
 Creates a new touch bar with the specified items. Use
 `BrowserWindow.setTouchBar` to add the `TouchBar` to a window.
@@ -14,6 +16,16 @@ Creates a new touch bar with the specified items. Use
 **Note:** The TouchBar API is currently experimental and may change or be
 removed in future Electron releases.
 
+### Instance Properties
+
+The following properties are available on instances of `TouchBar`:
+
+#### `touchBar.escapeItem`
+
+The `TouchBarItem` that will replace the "esc" button on the touch bar when set.
+Setting to `null` restores the default "esc" button. Changing this value
+immediately updates the escape item in the touch bar.
+
 ## Examples
 
 Below is an example of a simple slot machine touch bar game with a button
diff --git a/lib/browser/api/touch-bar.js b/lib/browser/api/touch-bar.js
index 74951edbac6..1070398c75c 100644
--- a/lib/browser/api/touch-bar.js
+++ b/lib/browser/api/touch-bar.js
@@ -20,22 +20,37 @@ class TouchBar extends EventEmitter {
     touchBar._addToWindow(window)
   }
 
-  constructor (items) {
+  constructor (options) {
     super()
 
+    if (options == null) {
+      throw new Error('Must specify options object as first argument')
+    }
+
+    let {items, escapeItem} = options
+
+    // FIXME Support array as first argument, remove in 2.0
+    if (Array.isArray(options)) {
+      items = options
+      escapeItem = null
+    }
+
     if (!Array.isArray(items)) {
-      throw new Error('Must specify items array as first argument')
+      items = []
+    }
+
+    this.changeListener = (item) => {
+      this.emit('change', item.id, item.type)
     }
 
     this.windowListeners = {}
     this.items = {}
     this.ordereredItems = []
+    this.escapeItem = escapeItem
 
     const registerItem = (item) => {
       this.items[item.id] = item
-      item.on('change', () => {
-        this.emit('change', item.id, item.type)
-      })
+      item.on('change', this.changeListener)
       if (item.child instanceof TouchBar) {
         item.child.ordereredItems.forEach(registerItem)
       }
@@ -49,6 +64,24 @@ class TouchBar extends EventEmitter {
     })
   }
 
+  set escapeItem (item) {
+    if (item != null && !(item instanceof TouchBarItem)) {
+      throw new Error('Escape item must be an instance of TouchBarItem')
+    }
+    if (this.escapeItem != null) {
+      this.escapeItem.removeListener('change', this.changeListener)
+    }
+    this._escapeItem = item
+    if (this.escapeItem != null) {
+      this.escapeItem.on('change', this.changeListener)
+    }
+    this.emit('escape-item-change', item)
+  }
+
+  get escapeItem () {
+    return this._escapeItem
+  }
+
   _addToWindow (window) {
     const {id} = window
 
@@ -62,8 +95,16 @@ class TouchBar extends EventEmitter {
     }
     this.on('change', changeListener)
 
+    const escapeItemListener = (item) => {
+      window._setEscapeTouchBarItem(item != null ? item : {})
+    }
+    this.on('escape-item-change', escapeItemListener)
+
     const interactionListener = (event, itemID, details) => {
-      const item = this.items[itemID]
+      let item = this.items[itemID]
+      if (item == null && this.escapeItem != null && this.escapeItem.id === itemID) {
+        item = this.escapeItem
+      }
       if (item != null && item.onInteraction != null) {
         item.onInteraction(details)
       }
@@ -72,6 +113,7 @@ class TouchBar extends EventEmitter {
 
     const removeListeners = () => {
       this.removeListener('change', changeListener)
+      this.removeListener('escape-item-change', escapeItemListener)
       window.removeListener('-touch-bar-interaction', interactionListener)
       window.removeListener('closed', removeListeners)
       window._touchBar = null
@@ -81,6 +123,7 @@ class TouchBar extends EventEmitter {
     this.windowListeners[id] = removeListeners
 
     window._setTouchBarItems(this.ordereredItems)
+    escapeItemListener(this.escapeItem)
   }
 
   _removeFromWindow (window) {
@@ -104,7 +147,7 @@ class TouchBarItem extends EventEmitter {
       },
       set: function (value) {
         this[privateName] = value
-        this.emit('change')
+        this.emit('change', this)
       },
       enumerable: true
     })
diff --git a/spec/api-touch-bar-spec.js b/spec/api-touch-bar-spec.js
index a8e90502f55..420ef3fc7b3 100644
--- a/spec/api-touch-bar-spec.js
+++ b/spec/api-touch-bar-spec.js
@@ -6,20 +6,32 @@ const {TouchBarButton, TouchBarColorPicker, TouchBarGroup} = TouchBar
 const {TouchBarLabel, TouchBarPopover, TouchBarScrubber, TouchBarSegmentedControl, TouchBarSlider, TouchBarSpacer} = TouchBar
 
 describe('TouchBar module', function () {
-  it('throws an error when created without an items array', function () {
+  it('throws an error when created without an options object', function () {
     assert.throws(() => {
       const touchBar = new TouchBar()
       touchBar.toString()
-    }, /Must specify items array as first argument/)
+    }, /Must specify options object as first argument/)
   })
 
   it('throws an error when created with invalid items', function () {
     assert.throws(() => {
-      const touchBar = new TouchBar([1, true, {}, []])
+      const touchBar = new TouchBar({items: [1, true, {}, []]})
       touchBar.toString()
     }, /Each item must be an instance of TouchBarItem/)
   })
 
+  it('throws an error when an invalid escape item is set', function () {
+    assert.throws(() => {
+      const touchBar = new TouchBar({items: [], escapeItem: 'esc'})
+      touchBar.toString()
+    }, /Escape item must be an instance of TouchBarItem/)
+
+    assert.throws(() => {
+      const touchBar = new TouchBar({items: []})
+      touchBar.escapeItem = 'esc'
+    }, /Escape item must be an instance of TouchBarItem/)
+  })
+
   describe('BrowserWindow behavior', function () {
     let window
 
@@ -55,10 +67,40 @@ describe('TouchBar module', function () {
           showArrowButtons: true
         })
       ])
+      const escapeButton = new TouchBarButton({
+        label: 'foo'
+      })
       window.setTouchBar(touchBar)
+      touchBar.escapeItem = escapeButton
       label.label = 'baz'
+      escapeButton.label = 'hello'
       window.setTouchBar()
       window.setTouchBar(new TouchBar([new TouchBarLabel({label: 'two'})]))
+      touchBar.escapeItem = null
+    })
+
+    it('calls the callback on the items when a window interaction event fires', function (done) {
+      const button = new TouchBarButton({
+        label: 'bar',
+        click: () => {
+          done()
+        }
+      })
+      const touchBar = new TouchBar({items: [button]})
+      window.setTouchBar(touchBar)
+      window.emit('-touch-bar-interaction', {}, button.id)
+    })
+
+    it('calls the callback on the escape item when a window interaction event fires', function (done) {
+      const button = new TouchBarButton({
+        label: 'bar',
+        click: () => {
+          done()
+        }
+      })
+      const touchBar = new TouchBar({escapeItem: button})
+      window.setTouchBar(touchBar)
+      window.emit('-touch-bar-interaction', {}, button.id)
     })
   })
 })