diff --git a/js/app.js b/js/app.js
index 578ebc7..92bea24 100644
--- a/js/app.js
+++ b/js/app.js
@@ -7923,11 +7923,18 @@ async function init() {
             e.preventDefault();
             openCheatsheet();
         } else if (e.key === 'Escape') {
-            // Close in priority order: confirm first (most modal-y) then others
+            // Close in priority order: confirm first (most modal-y), then the
+            // palette — it OPENS OVER the info modals (Ctrl+K on top of the
+            // cheatsheet), so it must close before them. ONE surface per
+            // keystroke, topmost first.
             if (!$('#confirmModal').classList.contains('is-hidden')) {
                 closeConfirm(false);
                 return;
             }
+            if (!$('#cmdPalette').classList.contains('is-hidden')) {
+                closePalette();
+                return;
+            }
             if (!$('#changeMasterModal').classList.contains('is-hidden')) {
                 closeChangeMasterModal();
                 return;
@@ -7940,13 +7947,6 @@ async function init() {
                 closeHistoryModal();
                 return;
             }
-            // ONE surface per keystroke, topmost first — closing several at
-            // once meant "Esc closes the palette AND pops the editor's
-            // discard prompt" (same class as the quick-search Esc bug).
-            if (!$('#cmdPalette').classList.contains('is-hidden')) {
-                closePalette();
-                return;
-            }
             if (!$('#entryModal').classList.contains('is-hidden')) {
                 closeEntryModal();
                 return;