diff --git a/js/desktop/src/features/compose/compose-overlay.tsx b/js/desktop/src/features/compose/compose-overlay.tsx
index 9144fa2..c4a0bdd 100644
--- a/js/desktop/src/features/compose/compose-overlay.tsx
+++ b/js/desktop/src/features/compose/compose-overlay.tsx
@@ -595,6 +595,16 @@ export function ComposeOverlay({
     const handleKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
       const currentStep = stepRef.current;
 
+      // Consume a key compose handles so it never reaches the stream's
+      // window-level navigation/action handlers. Without this, e.g. Escape
+      // while recording or reviewing would both cancel compose and exit the
+      // stream. Listening in the capture phase (see below) guarantees compose
+      // sees the key before those handlers regardless of registration order.
+      const consume = () => {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        e.stopPropagation();
+      };
+
       if (
         currentStep === 'typing' ||
         currentStep === 'task' ||
@@ -602,7 +612,7 @@ export function ComposeOverlay({
         currentStep === 'picking'
       ) {
         if (e.key === 'Escape') {
-          e.preventDefault();
+          consume();
           cancel();
         }
         return;
@@ -620,19 +630,19 @@ export function ComposeOverlay({
       switch (currentStep) {
         case 'idle': {
           if (e.key === '`' && !e.repeat) {
-            e.preventDefault();
+            consume();
             handleRecordIntent();
           } else if (e.key === 's' || e.key === 'S') {
-            e.preventDefault();
+            consume();
             if (!guardIdle()) break;
             if (!requireDesktop('Screen recording')) break;
             setRecordingSource('screen');
             setStepSync('picking');
           } else if (e.key === 't' || e.key === 'T') {
-            e.preventDefault();
+            consume();
             handleTextIntent();
           } else if (e.key === 'd' || e.key === 'D') {
-            e.preventDefault();
+            consume();
             handleTaskIntent();
           }
           break;
@@ -641,17 +651,17 @@ export function ComposeOverlay({
         case 'recording': {
           if (e.key === '`' && !e.repeat) {
             // Second tap stops media recording (toggle mode)
-            e.preventDefault();
+            consume();
             handleStopIntent();
           } else if (
             (e.key === 's' || e.key === 'S') &&
             recordingSourceRef.current === 'screen'
           ) {
             // S stops screen recording when main window is focused
-            e.preventDefault();
+            consume();
             handleStopIntent();
           } else if (e.key === 'q' || e.key === 'Q' || e.key === 'Escape') {
-            e.preventDefault();
+            consume();
             handleCancelIntent();
           }
           break;
@@ -659,10 +669,10 @@ export function ComposeOverlay({
 
         case 'reviewing': {
           if (e.key === 'q' || e.key === 'Q' || e.key === 'Escape') {
-            e.preventDefault();
+            consume();
             handleCancelIntent();
           } else if (e.key === 'Enter') {
-            e.preventDefault();
+            consume();
             handleSendIntent();
           }
           break;
@@ -689,10 +699,13 @@ export function ComposeOverlay({
       }
     };
 
-    window.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown);
+    // Capture phase so compose can consume keys before the stream's
+    // window-level navigation/action handlers (which listen in the bubble
+    // phase) see them.
+    window.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown, true);
     window.addEventListener('keyup', handleKeyUp);
     return () => {
-      window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown);
+      window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown, true);
       window.removeEventListener('keyup', handleKeyUp);
     };
   }, [