diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index e05c0d2a..e63ac121 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ import ReactModal from 'react-modal';
     Boolean indicating if the overlay should close the modal
   */
   shouldCloseOnOverlayClick={true}
+  /*
+    Boolean indicating if pressing the esc key should close the modal
+    Note: By disabling the esc key from closing the modal you may introduce an accessibility issue.
+  */
+  shouldCloseOnEsc={true}
   /*
     String indicating the role of the modal, allowing the 'dialog' role to be applied if desired.
   */
diff --git a/specs/Modal.events.spec.js b/specs/Modal.events.spec.js
index c12d7016..4c3af5fd 100644
--- a/specs/Modal.events.spec.js
+++ b/specs/Modal.events.spec.js
@@ -42,18 +42,35 @@ export default () => {
     document.activeElement.should.be.eql(content);
   });
 
-  it("should close on Esc key event", () => {
-    const requestCloseCallback = sinon.spy();
-    const modal = renderModal({
-      isOpen: true,
-      shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: true,
-      onRequestClose: requestCloseCallback
+  describe("shouldCloseOnEsc", () => {
+    context("when true", () => {
+      it("should close on Esc key event", () => {
+        const requestCloseCallback = sinon.spy();
+        const modal = renderModal({
+          isOpen: true,
+          shouldCloseOnEsc: true,
+          onRequestClose: requestCloseCallback
+        });
+        escKeyDown(mcontent(modal));
+        requestCloseCallback.called.should.be.ok();
+        // Check if event is passed to onRequestClose callback.
+        const event = requestCloseCallback.getCall(0).args[0];
+        event.should.be.ok();
+      });
+    });
+
+    context("when false", () => {
+      it("should not close on Esc key event", () => {
+        const requestCloseCallback = sinon.spy();
+        const modal = renderModal({
+          isOpen: true,
+          shouldCloseOnEsc: false,
+          onRequestClose: requestCloseCallback
+        });
+        escKeyDown(mcontent(modal));
+        requestCloseCallback.called.should.be.false;
+      });
     });
-    escKeyDown(mcontent(modal));
-    requestCloseCallback.called.should.be.ok();
-    // Check if event is passed to onRequestClose callback.
-    const ev = requestCloseCallback.getCall(0).args[0];
-    ev.should.be.ok();
   });
 
   describe("shouldCloseOnoverlayClick", () => {
diff --git a/src/components/Modal.js b/src/components/Modal.js
index 104d83a0..8301e8af 100644
--- a/src/components/Modal.js
+++ b/src/components/Modal.js
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ export default class Modal extends Component {
     parentSelector: PropTypes.func,
     aria: PropTypes.object,
     role: PropTypes.string,
-    contentLabel: PropTypes.string
+    contentLabel: PropTypes.string,
+    shouldCloseOnEsc: PropTypes.bool
   };
   /* eslint-enable react/no-unused-prop-types */
 
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ export default class Modal extends Component {
     ariaHideApp: true,
     closeTimeoutMS: 0,
     shouldFocusAfterRender: true,
+    shouldCloseOnEsc: true,
     shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: true,
     parentSelector() {
       return document.body;
diff --git a/src/components/ModalPortal.js b/src/components/ModalPortal.js
index 5aeb7b5c..86a924ae 100644
--- a/src/components/ModalPortal.js
+++ b/src/components/ModalPortal.js
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ export default class ModalPortal extends Component {
     role: PropTypes.string,
     contentLabel: PropTypes.string,
     aria: PropTypes.object,
-    children: PropTypes.node
+    children: PropTypes.node,
+    shouldCloseOnEsc: PropTypes.bool
   };
 
   constructor(props) {
@@ -195,7 +196,8 @@ export default class ModalPortal extends Component {
     if (event.keyCode === TAB_KEY) {
       scopeTab(this.content, event);
     }
-    if (event.keyCode === ESC_KEY) {
+
+    if (this.props.shouldCloseOnEsc && event.keyCode === ESC_KEY) {
       event.preventDefault();
       this.requestClose(event);
     }