diff --git a/packages/menus/src/containers/MenuContainer.js b/packages/menus/src/containers/MenuContainer.js
index d849bcfd83e..9f3413b4a41 100644
--- a/packages/menus/src/containers/MenuContainer.js
+++ b/packages/menus/src/containers/MenuContainer.js
@@ -150,18 +150,22 @@ class MenuContainer extends ControlledComponent {
     };
   }
 
-  componentDidMount() {
+  attachClickOutsideHandler() {
     this.getDocuments().forEach(doc => {
-      doc.addEventListener('mousedown', this.handleOutsideMouseDown);
+      doc.addEventListener('mousedown', this.handleOutsideMouseDown, true /* use capture */);
     });
   }
 
-  componentWillUnmount() {
+  detachClickOutsideHandler() {
     this.getDocuments().forEach(doc => {
-      doc.removeEventListener('mousedown', this.handleOutsideMouseDown);
+      doc.removeEventListener('mousedown', this.handleOutsideMouseDown, true /* use capture */);
     });
   }
 
+  componentWillUnmount() {
+    this.detachClickOutsideHandler();
+  }
+
   componentDidUpdate(prevProps, prevState) {
     const { isOpen, closedByBlur } = this.getControlledState();
     const previousisOpen = this.isControlledProp('isOpen') ? prevProps.isOpen : prevState.isOpen;
@@ -173,6 +177,8 @@ class MenuContainer extends ControlledComponent {
       if (!closedByBlur) {
         this.triggerReference && this.triggerReference.focus();
       }
+
+      this.detachClickOutsideHandler();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -192,6 +198,8 @@ class MenuContainer extends ControlledComponent {
       setTimeout(() => {
         this.menuReference && this.menuReference.focus();
       }, 0);
+
+      this.attachClickOutsideHandler();
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/menus/src/containers/MenuContainer.spec.js b/packages/menus/src/containers/MenuContainer.spec.js
index b5d4a63827c..e24907398e3 100644
--- a/packages/menus/src/containers/MenuContainer.spec.js
+++ b/packages/menus/src/containers/MenuContainer.spec.js
@@ -254,17 +254,41 @@ describe('MenuContainer', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  describe('componentWillUnmount', () => {
-    it('removes mousedown event listener', () => {
-      const removeEventListenerSpy = jest.fn();
+  describe('when the menu is open', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      jest.spyOn(document, 'removeEventListener');
 
-      document.removeEventListener = removeEventListenerSpy;
       wrapper = mountWithTheme(basicExample({ onChange: onChangeSpy }), {
         enzymeOptions: { attachTo: document.body }
       });
-      wrapper.unmount();
 
-      expect(removeEventListenerSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      findTrigger(wrapper).simulate('click');
+    });
+
+    afterEach(() => {
+      document.removeEventListener.mockRestore();
+    });
+
+    describe('when clicking outside', () => {
+      it('closes the menu', () => {
+        wrapper.simulate('click');
+
+        expect(findMenu(wrapper)).not.toExist();
+      });
+
+      it('removes click outside event listener', () => {
+        wrapper.simulate('click');
+
+        expect(document.removeEventListener).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('componentWillUnmount()', () => {
+      it('removes click outside event listener', () => {
+        wrapper.unmount();
+
+        expect(document.removeEventListener).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      });
     });
   });