diff --git a/js/ui/popupMenu.js b/js/ui/popupMenu.js
index 83194d72b..f449d6e7e 100644
--- a/js/ui/popupMenu.js
+++ b/js/ui/popupMenu.js
@@ -141,8 +141,17 @@ var PopupBaseMenuItem = new Lang.Class({
     },
 
     _onKeyPressEvent(actor, event) {
-        let symbol = event.get_key_symbol();
+        let state = event.get_state();
 
+        // if user has a modifier down (except capslock)
+        // then don't handle the key press here
+        state &= ~Clutter.ModifierType.LOCK_MASK;
+        state &= Clutter.ModifierType.MODIFIER_MASK;
+
+        if (state)
+            return Clutter.EVENT_PROPAGATE;
+
+        let symbol = event.get_key_symbol();
         if (symbol == Clutter.KEY_space || symbol == Clutter.KEY_Return) {
             this.activate(event);
             return Clutter.EVENT_STOP;