diff --git a/ts/components/LeftPane.tsx b/ts/components/LeftPane.tsx
index ebd220bfbd..79d6afa5be 100644
--- a/ts/components/LeftPane.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/LeftPane.tsx
@@ -348,8 +348,30 @@ export const LeftPane: React.FC<PropsType> = ({
   //   It also ensures that we scroll to the top when switching views.
   const listKey = preRowsNode ? 1 : 0;
 
+  // We disable this lint rule because we're trying to capture bubbled events. See [the
+  //   lint rule's docs][0].
+  //
+  // [0]: https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-jsx-a11y/blob/645900a0e296ca7053dbf6cd9e12cc85849de2d5/docs/rules/no-static-element-interactions.md#case-the-event-handler-is-only-being-used-to-capture-bubbled-events
+  /* eslint-disable jsx-a11y/no-static-element-interactions */
   return (
-    <div className="module-left-pane">
+    <div
+      className="module-left-pane"
+      onKeyDown={event => {
+        if (event.key === 'Escape') {
+          const backAction = helper.getBackAction({
+            showInbox,
+            startComposing,
+            showChooseGroupMembers,
+          });
+          if (backAction) {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            event.stopPropagation();
+            backAction();
+          }
+        }
+      }}
+    >
+      {/* eslint-enable jsx-a11y/no-static-element-interactions */}
       <div className="module-left-pane__header">
         {helper.getHeaderContents({
           i18n,
diff --git a/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneArchiveHelper.tsx b/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneArchiveHelper.tsx
index 634bbc9cbb..1a2715dd89 100644
--- a/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneArchiveHelper.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneArchiveHelper.tsx
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export class LeftPaneArchiveHelper extends LeftPaneHelper<
     return (
       <div className="module-left-pane__header__contents">
         <button
-          onClick={showInbox}
+          onClick={this.getBackAction({ showInbox })}
           className="module-left-pane__header__contents__back-button"
           title={i18n('backToInbox')}
           aria-label={i18n('backToInbox')}
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ export class LeftPaneArchiveHelper extends LeftPaneHelper<
     );
   }
 
+  getBackAction({ showInbox }: { showInbox: () => void }): () => void {
+    return showInbox;
+  }
+
   getPreRowsNode({ i18n }: Readonly<{ i18n: LocalizerType }>): ReactChild {
     return (
       <div className="module-left-pane__archive-helper-text">
diff --git a/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper.tsx b/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper.tsx
index 701daf9721..7b4aeb19ec 100644
--- a/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper.tsx
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ export class LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper extends LeftPaneHelper<
         <button
           aria-label={backButtonLabel}
           className="module-left-pane__header__contents__back-button"
-          onClick={startComposing}
+          onClick={this.getBackAction({ startComposing })}
           title={backButtonLabel}
           type="button"
         />
@@ -97,6 +97,14 @@ export class LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper extends LeftPaneHelper<
     );
   }
 
+  getBackAction({
+    startComposing,
+  }: {
+    startComposing: () => void;
+  }): () => void {
+    return startComposing;
+  }
+
   getPreRowsNode({
     closeCantAddContactToGroupModal,
     closeMaximumGroupSizeModal,
diff --git a/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneComposeHelper.tsx b/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneComposeHelper.tsx
index 0351fdb18b..82e56b32c5 100644
--- a/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneComposeHelper.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneComposeHelper.tsx
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export class LeftPaneComposeHelper extends LeftPaneHelper<
     return (
       <div className="module-left-pane__header__contents">
         <button
-          onClick={showInbox}
+          onClick={this.getBackAction({ showInbox })}
           className="module-left-pane__header__contents__back-button"
           title={i18n('backToInbox')}
           aria-label={i18n('backToInbox')}
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ export class LeftPaneComposeHelper extends LeftPaneHelper<
     );
   }
 
+  getBackAction({ showInbox }: { showInbox: () => void }): () => void {
+    return showInbox;
+  }
+
   getPreRowsNode({
     i18n,
     onChangeComposeSearchTerm,
diff --git a/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneHelper.tsx b/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneHelper.tsx
index fa438abc6b..763f1f2ddb 100644
--- a/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneHelper.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneHelper.tsx
@@ -30,6 +30,16 @@ export abstract class LeftPaneHelper<T> {
     return null;
   }
 
+  getBackAction(
+    _: Readonly<{
+      showInbox: () => void;
+      startComposing: () => void;
+      showChooseGroupMembers: () => void;
+    }>
+  ): undefined | (() => void) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+
   shouldRenderNetworkStatusAndUpdateDialog(): boolean {
     return false;
   }
diff --git a/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper.tsx b/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper.tsx
index 5ec513ebdf..3d716f7912 100644
--- a/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper.tsx
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export class LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper extends LeftPaneHelper<
           aria-label={backButtonLabel}
           className="module-left-pane__header__contents__back-button"
           disabled={this.isCreating}
-          onClick={showChooseGroupMembers}
+          onClick={this.getBackAction({ showChooseGroupMembers })}
           title={backButtonLabel}
           type="button"
         />
@@ -78,6 +78,14 @@ export class LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper extends LeftPaneHelper<
     );
   }
 
+  getBackAction({
+    showChooseGroupMembers,
+  }: {
+    showChooseGroupMembers: () => void;
+  }): undefined | (() => void) {
+    return this.isCreating ? undefined : showChooseGroupMembers;
+  }
+
   getPreRowsNode({
     clearGroupCreationError,
     createGroup,
diff --git a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneArchiveHelper_test.ts b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneArchiveHelper_test.ts
index 1d83e9d2c4..06b954cb6a 100644
--- a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneArchiveHelper_test.ts
+++ b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneArchiveHelper_test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
 
 import { assert } from 'chai';
+import * as sinon from 'sinon';
 import { v4 as uuid } from 'uuid';
 import { RowType } from '../../../components/ConversationList';
 import { FindDirection } from '../../../components/leftPane/LeftPaneHelper';
@@ -15,6 +16,15 @@ describe('LeftPaneArchiveHelper', () => {
     type: 'direct' as const,
   });
 
+  describe('getBackAction', () => {
+    it('returns the "show inbox" action', () => {
+      const showInbox = sinon.fake();
+      const helper = new LeftPaneArchiveHelper({ archivedConversations: [] });
+
+      assert.strictEqual(helper.getBackAction({ showInbox }), showInbox);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('getRowCount', () => {
     it('returns the number of archived conversations', () => {
       assert.strictEqual(
diff --git a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper_test.ts b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper_test.ts
index 16b20b23e0..59f47ff569 100644
--- a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper_test.ts
+++ b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper_test.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,18 @@ describe('LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper', () => {
     sinonSandbox.restore();
   });
 
+  describe('getBackAction', () => {
+    it('returns the "show composer" action', () => {
+      const startComposing = sinon.fake();
+      const helper = new LeftPaneChooseGroupMembersHelper(defaults);
+
+      assert.strictEqual(
+        helper.getBackAction({ startComposing }),
+        startComposing
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('getRowCount', () => {
     it('returns 0 if there are no contacts', () => {
       assert.strictEqual(
diff --git a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneComposeHelper_test.ts b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneComposeHelper_test.ts
index 342764cf1f..405988b9dd 100644
--- a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneComposeHelper_test.ts
+++ b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneComposeHelper_test.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,19 @@ describe('LeftPaneComposeHelper', () => {
     sinonSandbox.restore();
   });
 
+  describe('getBackAction', () => {
+    it('returns the "show inbox" action', () => {
+      const showInbox = sinon.fake();
+      const helper = new LeftPaneComposeHelper({
+        composeContacts: [],
+        regionCode: 'US',
+        searchTerm: '',
+      });
+
+      assert.strictEqual(helper.getBackAction({ showInbox }), showInbox);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('getRowCount', () => {
     it('returns 1 (for the "new group" button) if not searching and there are no contacts', () => {
       assert.strictEqual(
diff --git a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneInboxHelper_test.ts b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneInboxHelper_test.ts
index 0e9568ac12..10f8ec3996 100644
--- a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneInboxHelper_test.ts
+++ b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneInboxHelper_test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
 
 import { assert } from 'chai';
+import * as sinon from 'sinon';
 import { v4 as uuid } from 'uuid';
 import { RowType } from '../../../components/ConversationList';
 import { FindDirection } from '../../../components/leftPane/LeftPaneHelper';
@@ -15,6 +16,24 @@ describe('LeftPaneInboxHelper', () => {
     type: 'direct' as const,
   });
 
+  describe('getBackAction', () => {
+    it("returns undefined; you can't go back from the main inbox", () => {
+      const helper = new LeftPaneInboxHelper({
+        conversations: [],
+        pinnedConversations: [],
+        archivedConversations: [],
+      });
+
+      assert.isUndefined(
+        helper.getBackAction({
+          showChooseGroupMembers: sinon.fake(),
+          showInbox: sinon.fake(),
+          startComposing: sinon.fake(),
+        })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('getRowCount', () => {
     it('returns 0 if there are no conversations', () => {
       const helper = new LeftPaneInboxHelper({
diff --git a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSearchHelper_test.ts b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSearchHelper_test.ts
index 5c9e558f97..3ee8aab1c5 100644
--- a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSearchHelper_test.ts
+++ b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSearchHelper_test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
 
 import { assert } from 'chai';
+import * as sinon from 'sinon';
 import { v4 as uuid } from 'uuid';
 import { RowType } from '../../../components/ConversationList';
 
@@ -19,6 +20,25 @@ describe('LeftPaneSearchHelper', () => {
     conversationId: uuid(),
   });
 
+  describe('getBackAction', () => {
+    it('returns undefined; going back is handled elsewhere in the app', () => {
+      const helper = new LeftPaneSearchHelper({
+        conversationResults: { isLoading: false, results: [] },
+        contactResults: { isLoading: false, results: [] },
+        messageResults: { isLoading: false, results: [] },
+        searchTerm: 'foo',
+      });
+
+      assert.isUndefined(
+        helper.getBackAction({
+          showChooseGroupMembers: sinon.fake(),
+          showInbox: sinon.fake(),
+          startComposing: sinon.fake(),
+        })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('getRowCount', () => {
     it('returns 0 when there are no search results', () => {
       const helper = new LeftPaneSearchHelper({
diff --git a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper_test.ts b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper_test.ts
index 28a4d88dfd..8f443ccb77 100644
--- a/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper_test.ts
+++ b/ts/test-node/components/leftPane/LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper_test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
 
 import { assert } from 'chai';
+import * as sinon from 'sinon';
 import { v4 as uuid } from 'uuid';
 import { RowType } from '../../../components/ConversationList';
 
@@ -14,6 +15,38 @@ describe('LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper', () => {
     type: 'direct' as const,
   });
 
+  describe('getBackAction', () => {
+    it('returns the "show composer" action if a request is not active', () => {
+      const showChooseGroupMembers = sinon.fake();
+      const helper = new LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper({
+        groupAvatar: undefined,
+        groupName: '',
+        hasError: false,
+        isCreating: false,
+        selectedContacts: [],
+      });
+
+      assert.strictEqual(
+        helper.getBackAction({ showChooseGroupMembers }),
+        showChooseGroupMembers
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("returns undefined (i.e., you can't go back) if a request is active", () => {
+      const helper = new LeftPaneSetGroupMetadataHelper({
+        groupAvatar: undefined,
+        groupName: 'Foo Bar',
+        hasError: false,
+        isCreating: true,
+        selectedContacts: [],
+      });
+
+      assert.isUndefined(
+        helper.getBackAction({ showChooseGroupMembers: sinon.fake() })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('getRowCount', () => {
     it('returns 0 if there are no contacts', () => {
       assert.strictEqual(