diff --git a/js/ui/modalDialog.js b/js/ui/modalDialog.js
index 5c20b085c..304733efb 100644
--- a/js/ui/modalDialog.js
+++ b/js/ui/modalDialog.js
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ const ModalDialog = new Lang.Class({
 
         this._group.connect('destroy', Lang.bind(this, this._onGroupDestroy));
 
+        this._pressedKey = null;
         this._buttonKeys = {};
+        this._group.connect('key-press-event', Lang.bind(this, this._onKeyPressEvent));
         this._group.connect('key-release-event', Lang.bind(this, this._onKeyReleaseEvent));
 
         this._backgroundBin = new St.Bin();
@@ -179,10 +181,19 @@ const ModalDialog = new Lang.Class({
         return button;
     },
 
-    _onKeyReleaseEvent: function(object, event) {
-        let symbol = event.get_key_symbol();
-        let buttonInfo = this._buttonKeys[symbol];
+    _onKeyPressEvent: function(object, event) {
+        this._pressedKey = event.get_key_symbol();
+    },
 
+    _onKeyReleaseEvent: function(object, event) {
+        let pressedKey = this._pressedKey;
+        this._pressedKey = null;
+
+        let symbol = event.get_key_symbol();
+        if (symbol != pressedKey)
+            return false;
+
+        let buttonInfo = this._buttonKeys[symbol];
         if (!buttonInfo)
             return false;