diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index ea22354..2b1b90c 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -41,3 +41,4 @@ System packages (example names):
 - STT model and device are configured via the `stt` section in `config.json`.
 - LLM model settings are locked; model downloads to `~/.cache/lel/models/`.
 - `-v/--verbose` enables verbose logs (including llama.cpp) with `llama::` prefix.
+- Press `Esc` while recording to cancel without processing.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e5aaddc..cd1a15d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ systemctl --user enable --now lel
 
 - Press the hotkey once to start recording.
 - Press it again to stop and run STT.
+- Press `Esc` while recording to cancel without processing.
 - Transcript contents are logged only when `logging.log_transcript` is enabled or `-v/--verbose` is used.
 
 Wayland note:
diff --git a/src/desktop.py b/src/desktop.py
index 3f321fa..3c89bb6 100644
--- a/src/desktop.py
+++ b/src/desktop.py
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ class DesktopAdapter(Protocol):
     def start_hotkey_listener(self, hotkey: str, callback: Callable[[], None]) -> None:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    def start_cancel_listener(self, callback: Callable[[], None]) -> None:
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
     def inject_text(self, text: str, backend: str) -> None:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
diff --git a/src/desktop_wayland.py b/src/desktop_wayland.py
index 0b6903f..6d3c6c5 100644
--- a/src/desktop_wayland.py
+++ b/src/desktop_wayland.py
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ class WaylandAdapter:
     def start_hotkey_listener(self, _hotkey: str, _callback: Callable[[], None]) -> None:
         raise SystemExit("Wayland hotkeys are not supported yet.")
 
+    def start_cancel_listener(self, _callback: Callable[[], None]) -> None:
+        raise SystemExit("Wayland hotkeys are not supported yet.")
+
     def inject_text(self, _text: str, _backend: str) -> None:
         raise SystemExit("Wayland text injection is not supported yet.")
 
diff --git a/src/desktop_x11.py b/src/desktop_x11.py
index 5024ec6..de8a288 100644
--- a/src/desktop_x11.py
+++ b/src/desktop_x11.py
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ class X11Adapter:
         thread = threading.Thread(target=self._listen, args=(hotkey, callback), daemon=True)
         thread.start()
 
+    def start_cancel_listener(self, callback: Callable[[], None]) -> None:
+        thread = threading.Thread(target=self._listen, args=("Escape", callback), daemon=True)
+        thread.start()
+
     def inject_text(self, text: str, backend: str) -> None:
         backend = (backend or "").strip().lower()
         if backend in ("", "clipboard"):
diff --git a/src/leld.py b/src/leld.py
index f322aae..7bc41db 100755
--- a/src/leld.py
+++ b/src/leld.py
@@ -231,6 +231,12 @@ class Daemon:
         stream, record = payload
         self._start_stop_worker(stream, record, trigger, process_audio)
 
+    def cancel_recording(self):
+        with self.lock:
+            if self.state != State.RECORDING:
+                return
+        self.stop_recording(trigger="cancel", process_audio=False)
+
     def shutdown(self, timeout: float = 5.0) -> bool:
         self.request_shutdown()
         self.stop_recording(trigger="shutdown", process_audio=False)
@@ -348,6 +354,7 @@ def main():
         cfg.daemon.hotkey,
         lambda: logging.info("hotkey pressed (dry-run)") if args.dry_run else daemon.toggle(),
     )
+    desktop.start_cancel_listener(lambda: daemon.cancel_recording())
     logging.info("ready")
     try:
         desktop.run_tray(daemon.get_state, lambda: shutdown("quit requested"))