diff --git a/port/fast3d/gfx_sdl2.cpp b/port/fast3d/gfx_sdl2.cpp
index 25ce3c3d..d6369669 100644
--- a/port/fast3d/gfx_sdl2.cpp
+++ b/port/fast3d/gfx_sdl2.cpp
@@ -299,9 +299,9 @@ static void gfx_sdl_handle_events(void) {
                 if (event.key.keysym.sym == SDLK_RETURN && (event.key.keysym.mod & KMOD_ALT)) {
                     // alt-enter received, switch fullscreen state
                     set_fullscreen(!fullscreen_state, true);
-                } else if (event.key.keysym.sym == SDLK_ESCAPE) {
-                    // GE's own menus use the keyboard; ESC on an empty event
-                    // queue is our quit key (matches the Phase 1 demo loop).
+                } else if (event.key.keysym.sym == SDLK_F4 && (event.key.keysym.mod & KMOD_ALT)) {
+                    // D145: Alt+F4 quits; bare ESC no longer does (it is the
+                    // menu "back" key -- see port/src/video.c / input.c).
                     exit(0);
                 }
                 break;
diff --git a/port/src/input.c b/port/src/input.c
index 9b617221..00a81cca 100644
--- a/port/src/input.c
+++ b/port/src/input.c
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ unsigned inputComputePad(int idx, signed char *stick_x, signed char *stick_y)
             wheelPulse--;
         }
         if (keyDown(ks, SDL_SCANCODE_X) || keyDown(ks, SDL_SCANCODE_R) ||
-            keyDown(ks, SDL_SCANCODE_F))
+            keyDown(ks, SDL_SCANCODE_F) || keyDown(ks, SDL_SCANCODE_ESCAPE)) /* D145: ESC = B (back/cancel) */
             button |= GE_CONT_B;
         if (keyDown(ks, SDL_SCANCODE_Q))
             button |= GE_CONT_L;
diff --git a/port/src/video.c b/port/src/video.c
index 7143e1a0..d08ffb57 100644
--- a/port/src/video.c
+++ b/port/src/video.c
@@ -197,8 +197,14 @@ void videoPumpEvents(void)
             exit(0);
             break;
         case SDL_KEYDOWN:
-            if (ev.key.keysym.sym == SDLK_ESCAPE) {
-                sysLogPrintf(LOG_INFO, "video: ESC -> quit");
+            /* D145: bare ESC used to exit(0). On the front-end / debrief
+             * screens ESC is the natural "back" key, so a player pressing it
+             * to page back instead quit the whole game (looked like a crash --
+             * clean exit, no crash log). ESC now feeds the N64 B button
+             * (back / cancel) via input.c; quitting is window-close (the X) or
+             * Alt+F4 only. */
+            if ((ev.key.keysym.sym == SDLK_F4) && (ev.key.keysym.mod & KMOD_ALT)) {
+                sysLogPrintf(LOG_INFO, "video: Alt+F4 -> quit");
                 exit(0);
             } else if (ev.key.keysym.sym == SDLK_F12 && !ev.key.repeat) {
                 screenshotReq = 1;