diff --git a/cmd-display-menu.c b/cmd-display-menu.c
index a4f0184bf..98f8ca5bb 100644
--- a/cmd-display-menu.c
+++ b/cmd-display-menu.c
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ const struct cmd_entry cmd_display_popup_entry = {
 	.name = "display-popup",
 	.alias = "popup",
 
-	.args = { "Bb:Cc:d:e:Eh:kNs:S:t:T:w:x:y:", 0, -1, NULL },
-	.usage = "[-BCEkN] [-b border-lines] [-c target-client] "
+	.args = { "Bb:Cc:d:e:Eh:ks:S:t:T:w:x:y:", 0, -1, NULL },
+	.usage = "[-BCEk] [-b border-lines] [-c target-client] "
 		 "[-d start-directory] [-e environment] [-h height] "
 		 "[-s style] [-S border-style] " CMD_TARGET_PANE_USAGE
 		 " [-T title] [-w width] [-x position] [-y position] "
@@ -505,14 +505,22 @@ cmd_display_popup_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	}
 	window_pop_zoom(w);
 	new_wp->flags |= PANE_CAPTUREALLKEYS;
+	if (!args_has(args, 'E'))
+		new_wp->flags |= PANE_CLOSEONCANCEL;
 
 	options_set_number(new_wp->options, "pane-border-lines", lines);
-	if (args_has(args, 'E') > 1)
-		options_set_number(new_wp->options, "remain-on-exit", 2);
-	else if (args_has(args, 'E'))
+	if (args_has(args, 'E') > 1) {
+		if (args_has(args, 'k'))
+			options_set_number(new_wp->options, "remain-on-exit", 4);
+		else
+			options_set_number(new_wp->options, "remain-on-exit", 2);
+	} else if (args_has(args, 'E'))
 		options_set_number(new_wp->options, "remain-on-exit", 0);
-	else
+	else if (args_has(args, 'k'))
 		options_set_number(new_wp->options, "remain-on-exit", 3);
+	else
+		options_set_number(new_wp->options, "remain-on-exit", 1);
+	options_set_string(new_wp->options, "remain-on-exit-format", 0, "%s", "");
 
 	if (style != NULL) {
 		if (options_set_string(new_wp->options, "window-style", 0,
diff --git a/cmd-split-window.c b/cmd-split-window.c
index c907dd152..3ddc33c22 100644
--- a/cmd-split-window.c
+++ b/cmd-split-window.c
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ const struct cmd_entry cmd_new_pane_entry = {
 	.name = "new-pane",
 	.alias = "newp",
 
-	.args = { "AbB:Cc:de:EfF:hIkl:KLMm:Op:PR:s:S:t:T:vWx:X:y:Y:Z", 0, -1, NULL },
-	.usage = "[-AbCdefhIkKLMOPvWZ] [-B border-lines] "
+	.args = { "AbB:Cc:Dde:EfF:hIkl:KLMm:Op:PR:s:S:t:T:vWx:X:y:Y:Z", 0, -1, NULL },
+	.usage = "[-AbCDefhIkKLMOPvWZ] [-B border-lines] "
 		 "[-c start-directory] [-e environment] "
 		 "[-F format] [-l size] [-m message] [-p percentage] "
 		 "[-s style] [-S active-border-style] "
@@ -219,6 +219,8 @@ cmd_split_window_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 		new_wp->flags |= PANE_CAPTUREALLKEYS;
 	if (args_has(args, 'C') && args_has(args, 'O'))
 		new_wp->flags |= PANE_CLOSEONCLICK;
+	if (args_has(args, 'D') && args_has(args, 'O'))
+		new_wp->flags |= PANE_CLOSEONCANCEL;
 
 	style = args_get(args, 's');
 	if (style != NULL) {
diff --git a/options-table.c b/options-table.c
index 32f842347..7a2575b02 100644
--- a/options-table.c
+++ b/options-table.c
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ static const char *options_table_window_size_list[] = {
 	"largest", "smallest", "manual", "latest", NULL
 };
 static const char *options_table_remain_on_exit_list[] = {
-	"off", "on", "failed", "key", NULL
+	"off", "on", "failed", "key", "failed-key", NULL
 };
 static const char *options_table_destroy_unattached_list[] = {
 	"off", "on", "keep-last", "keep-group", NULL
@@ -1671,7 +1671,8 @@ const struct options_table_entry options_table[] = {
 	  .choices = options_table_remain_on_exit_list,
 	  .default_num = 0,
 	  .text = "Whether panes should remain ('on'), remain until a key is "
-		  "pressed ('key') or be automatically killed ('off' or "
+		  "pressed after any exit ('key') or after a failure "
+		  "('failed-key'), or be automatically killed ('off' or "
 		  "'failed') when the program inside exits."
 	},
 
diff --git a/regress/modal-pane.sh b/regress/modal-pane.sh
index 3c5c1691a..a09eef327 100644
--- a/regress/modal-pane.sh
+++ b/regress/modal-pane.sh
@@ -337,9 +337,9 @@ $TMUX set -g @modal-prefix no
 $TMUX set -g @modal-root no
 $TMUX bind -n z set -g @modal-root yes
 
-modal=$($TMUX new-pane -OKPF '#{pane_id}' -t "$p0" \
+modal=$($TMUX new-pane -ODKPF '#{pane_id}' -t "$p0" \
     -x 20 -y 5 -X 20 -Y 10 'cat') ||
-	fail "new-pane -OK failed"
+	fail "new-pane -ODK failed"
 sleep 1
 $TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" C-b x z Enter
 sleep 1
@@ -356,6 +356,28 @@ new_left=$(fmt "$modal" '#{pane_left}')
 new_top=$(fmt "$modal" '#{pane_top}')
 [ "$new_left" -gt "$left" ] || [ "$new_top" -gt "$top" ] ||
 	fail "key-capturing modal pane did not move"
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" Escape
+sleep 1
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" ''
+
+modal=$($TMUX new-pane -ODKPF '#{pane_id}' -t "$p0" \
+    -x 20 -y 5 -X 20 -Y 10 'trap "" INT; exec cat') ||
+	fail "new-pane -ODK failed"
+sleep 1
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" C-c
+sleep 1
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" ''
+
+# A dead modal does not close on Escape or C-c without -D.
+modal=$($TMUX new-pane -OPF '#{pane_id}' -t "$p0" \
+    -x 20 -y 5 -X 20 -Y 10 'sleep 1') ||
+	fail "new-pane -O failed"
+check_ok set-option -p -t "$modal" remain-on-exit on
+sleep 2
+must_equal "$(fmt "$modal" '#{pane_dead}:#{pane_modal_flag}')" 1:1
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" Escape
+sleep 1
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" "$modal"
 check_ok kill-pane -t "$modal"
 sleep 1
 
@@ -372,8 +394,12 @@ case "$($TMUX capture-pane -pt "$modal")" in
 *xz*) ;;
 *) fail "keys did not reach display-popup pane" ;;
 esac
-check_ok kill-pane -t "$modal"
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" Escape
 sleep 1
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" "$modal"
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" C-c
+sleep 1
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" ''
 
 # Creating a popup pane must not fire the split-window hook.
 check_ok set-hook -t modal after-split-window \
@@ -400,8 +426,56 @@ sleep 2
 modal=$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')
 [ -n "$modal" ] || fail "retained display-popup was not created"
 must_equal "$(fmt "$modal" '#{pane_dead}')" 1
+case "$($TMUX capture-pane -pt "$modal")" in
+*'Pane is dead'*) fail "display-popup showed remain-on-exit message" ;;
+esac
 $TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" a
 sleep 1
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" "$modal"
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" Escape
+sleep 1
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" ''
+
+$TMUX bind K display-popup -k -t "$p0" -w 20 -h 5 'printf done'
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" C-b K
+sleep 2
+modal=$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')
+[ -n "$modal" ] || fail "display-popup -k was not created"
+must_equal "$(fmt "$modal" '#{pane_dead}')" 1
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" a
+sleep 1
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" ''
+
+$TMUX bind F display-popup -EE -t "$p0" -w 20 -h 5 'exit 1'
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" C-b F
+sleep 2
+modal=$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')
+[ -n "$modal" ] || fail "failed display-popup -EE did not remain"
+must_equal "$(fmt "$modal" '#{pane_dead}')" 1
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" a
+sleep 1
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" "$modal"
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" Escape
+sleep 1
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" "$modal"
+check_ok kill-pane -t "$modal"
+sleep 1
+
+check_ok display-popup -EE -t "$p0" true
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" ''
+
+$TMUX bind G display-popup -EE -k -t "$p0" -w 20 -h 5 'exit 1'
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" C-b G
+sleep 2
+modal=$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')
+[ -n "$modal" ] || fail "failed display-popup -EE -k did not remain"
+must_equal "$(fmt "$modal" '#{pane_dead}')" 1
+must_equal "$($TMUX show-options -pv -t "$modal" remain-on-exit)" failed-key
+$TMUX2 send-keys -t "$OUTER" a
+sleep 1
+must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" ''
+
+check_ok display-popup -EE -k -t "$p0" true
 must_equal "$(fmt modal:0 '#{window_modal_pane}')" ''
 
 # A nonmodal floating pane may remain above zoom, and switching between it and
diff --git a/server-client.c b/server-client.c
index 77316a306..a1f8b3121 100644
--- a/server-client.c
+++ b/server-client.c
@@ -1273,15 +1273,19 @@ server_client_repeat_time(struct client *c, struct key_binding *bd)
 	return (repeat);
 }
 
-/* Handle a key press on a dead pane waiting for a key. */
+/* Handle a key press which closes a dead pane. */
 static int
 server_client_handle_dead_key(struct window_pane *wp, key_code key)
 {
+	int	remain_on_exit;
+
 	if (wp == NULL ||
 	    (~wp->flags & PANE_EXITED) ||
 	    KEYC_IS_MOUSE(key) ||
-	    KEYC_IS_PASTE(key) ||
-	    options_get_number(wp->options, "remain-on-exit") != 3)
+	    KEYC_IS_PASTE(key))
+		return (0);
+	remain_on_exit = options_get_number(wp->options, "remain-on-exit");
+	if (remain_on_exit != 3 && remain_on_exit != 4)
 		return (0);
 	options_set_number(wp->options, "remain-on-exit", 0);
 	server_destroy_pane(wp, 0);
@@ -1634,9 +1638,9 @@ server_client_handle_key0(struct client *c, struct key_event *event,
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * Key presses for panes capturing all keys and in the command prompt are
-	 * a special case. The queue might be blocked so they need to be processed
-	 * immediately rather than queued.
+	 * Dead panes waiting for a key, modal cancel keys, panes capturing all keys
+	 * and the command prompt are special cases. The queue might be blocked so
+	 * they need to be processed immediately rather than queued.
 	 */
 	if (~c->flags & CLIENT_READONLY) {
 		if (c->message_string != NULL) {
@@ -1646,12 +1650,19 @@ server_client_handle_key0(struct client *c, struct key_event *event,
 		}
 
 		wp = s->curw->window->active;
+		if (server_client_handle_dead_key(wp, event->key))
+			return (0);
+		if (wp != NULL &&
+		    wp == wp->window->modal &&
+		    (wp->flags & PANE_CLOSEONCANCEL) &&
+		    (event->key == '\033' || event->key == ('c'|KEYC_CTRL))) {
+			server_kill_pane(wp);
+			return (0);
+		}
 		if (wp != NULL &&
 		    (wp->flags & PANE_CAPTUREALLKEYS) &&
 		    TAILQ_EMPTY(&wp->modes) &&
 		    !KEYC_IS_MOUSE(event->key)) {
-			if (server_client_handle_dead_key(wp, event->key))
-				return (0);
 			if (~wp->flags & PANE_EXITED) {
 				window_pane_key(wp, c, s, s->curw, event->key,
 				    &event->m);
diff --git a/server-fn.c b/server-fn.c
index 697d7abc5..9721aa03b 100644
--- a/server-fn.c
+++ b/server-fn.c
@@ -386,6 +386,7 @@ server_destroy_pane(struct window_pane *wp, int notify)
 	case 0:
 		break;
 	case 2:
+	case 4:
 		if (WIFEXITED(wp->status) && WEXITSTATUS(wp->status) == 0)
 			break;
 		/* FALLTHROUGH */
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index fcdb3e426..526d67cb3 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -3655,7 +3655,7 @@ but a different format may be specified with
 .Fl F .
 .Tg newp
 .It Xo Ic new\-pane
-.Op Fl AbCdefhIkKLMOPvWZ
+.Op Fl AbCDefhIkKLMOPvWZ
 .Op Fl B Ar border\-lines
 .Op Fl c Ar start\-directory
 .Op Fl e Ar environment
@@ -3717,6 +3717,13 @@ all keys, including the prefix key, are passed directly to the modal pane.
 With
 .Fl C ,
 the modal pane is closed when the mouse is clicked outside it.
+With
+.Fl D ,
+the modal pane is closed when
+.Ql Escape
+or
+.Ql C-c
+is pressed.
 .Pp
 The
 .Fl L
@@ -6292,7 +6299,7 @@ uses when the colour with that index is requested.
 The index may be from zero to 255.
 .Pp
 .It Xo Ic remain\-on\-exit
-.Op Ic on | off | failed | key
+.Op Ic on | off | failed | key | failed\-key
 .Xc
 A pane with this flag set is not destroyed when the program running in it
 exits.
@@ -6302,6 +6309,10 @@ then only when the program exit status is not zero.
 If set to
 .Ic key ,
 the pane stays open and closes when a key is pressed.
+If set to
+.Ic failed\-key ,
+the pane stays open and closes when a key is pressed only if the program exit
+status is not zero.
 The pane may be reactivated with the
 .Ic respawn\-pane
 command.
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index 4ce2f2d05..17cd168bc 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -1339,6 +1339,7 @@ struct window_pane {
 #define PANE_CLOSEONCLICK 0x80000
 #define PANE_CAPTUREALLKEYS 0x100000
 #define PANE_FLOATOVERZOOM 0x200000
+#define PANE_CLOSEONCANCEL 0x400000
 
 	bitstr_t	*sync_dirty;
 	u_int		 sync_dirty_size;