diff --git a/lang/en/message.php b/lang/en/message.php
index 2723d3bdb6259..86370803198b3 100644
--- a/lang/en/message.php
+++ b/lang/en/message.php
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 $string['blockuserconfirmbutton'] = 'Block';
 $string['blocknoncontacts'] = 'Prevent non-contacts from messaging me';
 $string['canceledit'] = 'Cancel editing messages';
+$string['cancelselection'] = 'Cancel message selection';
 $string['contactableprivacy'] = 'Accept messages from:';
 $string['contactableprivacy_onlycontacts'] = 'My contacts only';
 $string['contactableprivacy_coursemember'] = 'My contacts and anyone in my courses';
diff --git a/message/templates/message_drawer_view_conversation_header_edit_mode.mustache b/message/templates/message_drawer_view_conversation_header_edit_mode.mustache
index 3470764c45627..31df07817c564 100644
--- a/message/templates/message_drawer_view_conversation_header_edit_mode.mustache
+++ b/message/templates/message_drawer_view_conversation_header_edit_mode.mustache
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@
 <div class="d-flex p-2 align-items-center">
     {{#str}} messagesselected:, core_message {{/str}}
     <span class="ml-1" data-region="message-selected-court">1</span>
-    <button type="button" class="ml-auto close" aria-label="" data-action="cancel-edit-mode">
-        <span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
+    <button type="button" class="ml-auto close" aria-label="{{#str}} cancelselection, core_message {{/str}}"
+        data-action="cancel-edit-mode">
+            <span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
     </button>
 </div>