diff --git a/src/wp-includes/widgets/class-wp-widget-archives.php b/src/wp-includes/widgets/class-wp-widget-archives.php
index 7457244833a45..28a4399d4a716 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/widgets/class-wp-widget-archives.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/widgets/class-wp-widget-archives.php
@@ -110,12 +110,28 @@ public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
 			<?php ob_start(); ?>
 <script>
 (function() {
-	var dropdown = document.getElementById( "<?php echo esc_js( $dropdown_id ); ?>" );
-	function onSelectChange() {
-		if ( dropdown.options[ dropdown.selectedIndex ].value !== '' ) {
-			document.location.href = this.options[ this.selectedIndex ].value;
-		}
+	var dropdown = document.getElementById( '<?php echo esc_js( $dropdown_id ); ?>' ), lastkey;
+	function onSelectChange(e) {
+		setTimeout(function() {
+			lastKey = dropdown.getAttribute( 'data-lastkey' );
+			if ( 'change' === e.type && 'escape' === lastKey ) {
+				return;
+			}
+			if ( dropdown.options[ dropdown.selectedIndex ].value !== '' ) {
+				document.location.href = this.options[ this.selectedIndex ].value;
+			}
+		}, 250 );
 	}
+	dropdown.addEventListener( 'keyup', function(e) {
+		if ( 'Escape' === e.key ) {
+			dropdown.setAttribute( 'data-lastkey', 'escape' ); 
+		} else {
+			dropdown.removeAttribute( 'data-lastkey' ); 
+		}
+	});
+	dropdown.addEventListener( 'click', function() {
+		dropdown.removeAttribute( 'data-lastkey' );
+	});
 	dropdown.onchange = onSelectChange;
 })();
 </script>
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/widgets/class-wp-widget-categories.php b/src/wp-includes/widgets/class-wp-widget-categories.php
index b79881e75292f..35b9f9c9cb887 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/widgets/class-wp-widget-categories.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/widgets/class-wp-widget-categories.php
@@ -97,12 +97,28 @@ public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
 
 <script>
 (function() {
-	var dropdown = document.getElementById( "<?php echo esc_js( $dropdown_id ); ?>" );
-	function onCatChange() {
-		if ( dropdown.options[ dropdown.selectedIndex ].value > 0 ) {
-			dropdown.parentNode.submit();
-		}
+	var dropdown = document.getElementById( '<?php echo esc_js( $dropdown_id ); ?>' ), lastkey;
+	function onCatChange(e) {
+		setTimeout(function() {
+			lastKey = dropdown.getAttribute( 'data-lastkey' );
+			if ( 'change' === e.type && 'escape' === lastKey ) {
+				return;
+			}
+			if ( dropdown.options[ dropdown.selectedIndex ].value > 0 ) {
+				dropdown.parentNode.submit();
+			}
+		}, 250 );
 	}
+	dropdown.addEventListener( 'keyup', function(e) {
+		if ( 'Escape' === e.key ) {
+			dropdown.setAttribute( 'data-lastkey', 'escape' ); 
+		} else {
+			dropdown.removeAttribute( 'data-lastkey' ); 
+		}
+	});
+	dropdown.addEventListener( 'click', function() {
+		dropdown.removeAttribute( 'data-lastkey' );
+	});
 	dropdown.onchange = onCatChange;
 })();
 </script>