diff --git a/qt/aqt/data/web/js/webview.ts b/qt/aqt/data/web/js/webview.ts
index 59f904fb1..6c812bef8 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/data/web/js/webview.ts
+++ b/qt/aqt/data/web/js/webview.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 /* Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
  * License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html */
 
+// prevent backspace key from going back a page
 document.addEventListener("keydown", function(evt: KeyboardEvent) {
-    if (evt.keyCode === 27) {
-        pycmd("close");
-    } // prevent backspace key from going back a page
-    else if (evt.keyCode !== 8) {
+    if (evt.keyCode !== 8) {
         return;
     }
     let isText = 0;
diff --git a/qt/aqt/webview.py b/qt/aqt/webview.py
index c267d82de..fc816093b 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/webview.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/webview.py
@@ -249,6 +249,19 @@ class AnkiWebView(QWebEngineView):
         self._filterSet = False
         gui_hooks.theme_did_change.append(self.on_theme_did_change)
 
+        qconnect(self.loadFinished, self._on_load_finished)
+
+    def _on_load_finished(self) -> None:
+        self.eval(
+            """
+        document.addEventListener("keydown", function(evt) {
+            if (evt.keyCode === 27) {
+                pycmd("close");
+            }
+        });
+        """
+        )
+
     def set_title(self, title: str) -> None:
         self.title = title  # type: ignore[assignment]