diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/request_user_input/mod.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/request_user_input/mod.rs
index 59807a8a4ca..95427724461 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/request_user_input/mod.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/request_user_input/mod.rs
@@ -427,8 +427,8 @@ impl RequestUserInputOverlay {
             if self.selected_option_index().is_some() && !notes_visible {
                 tips.push(FooterTip::highlighted("tab to add notes"));
             }
-            if self.selected_option_index().is_some() && notes_visible && self.focus_is_notes() {
-                tips.push(FooterTip::new("tab to clear notes"));
+            if self.selected_option_index().is_some() && notes_visible {
+                tips.push(FooterTip::new("tab or esc to clear notes"));
             }
         }
 
@@ -449,7 +449,9 @@ impl RequestUserInputOverlay {
                 tips.push(FooterTip::new("ctrl + n next question"));
             }
         }
-        tips.push(FooterTip::new("esc to interrupt"));
+        if !(self.has_options() && notes_visible) {
+            tips.push(FooterTip::new("esc to interrupt"));
+        }
         tips
     }
 
@@ -663,6 +665,23 @@ impl RequestUserInputOverlay {
         self.sync_composer_placeholder();
     }
 
+    fn clear_notes_and_focus_options(&mut self) {
+        if !self.has_options() {
+            return;
+        }
+        if let Some(answer) = self.current_answer_mut() {
+            answer.draft = ComposerDraft::default();
+            answer.answer_committed = false;
+            answer.notes_visible = false;
+        }
+        self.pending_submission_draft = None;
+        self.composer
+            .set_text_content(String::new(), Vec::new(), Vec::new());
+        self.composer.move_cursor_to_end();
+        self.focus = Focus::Options;
+        self.sync_composer_placeholder();
+    }
+
     /// Ensure there is a selection before allowing notes entry.
     fn ensure_selected_for_notes(&mut self) {
         if let Some(answer) = self.current_answer_mut() {
@@ -976,6 +995,10 @@ impl BottomPaneView for RequestUserInputOverlay {
         }
 
         if matches!(key_event.code, KeyCode::Esc) {
+            if self.has_options() && self.notes_ui_visible() {
+                self.clear_notes_and_focus_options();
+                return;
+            }
             // TODO: Emit interrupted request_user_input results (including committed answers)
             // once core supports persisting them reliably without follow-up turn issues.
             self.app_event_tx.send(AppEvent::CodexOp(Op::Interrupt));
@@ -1093,16 +1116,7 @@ impl BottomPaneView for RequestUserInputOverlay {
             Focus::Notes => {
                 let notes_empty = self.composer.current_text_with_pending().trim().is_empty();
                 if self.has_options() && matches!(key_event.code, KeyCode::Tab) {
-                    if let Some(answer) = self.current_answer_mut() {
-                        answer.draft = ComposerDraft::default();
-                        answer.answer_committed = false;
-                        answer.notes_visible = false;
-                    }
-                    self.composer
-                        .set_text_content(String::new(), Vec::new(), Vec::new());
-                    self.composer.move_cursor_to_end();
-                    self.focus = Focus::Options;
-                    self.sync_composer_placeholder();
+                    self.clear_notes_and_focus_options();
                     return;
                 }
                 if self.has_options() && matches!(key_event.code, KeyCode::Backspace) && notes_empty
@@ -1753,7 +1767,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn esc_in_notes_mode_interrupts() {
+    fn esc_in_notes_mode_clears_notes_and_hides_ui() {
         let (tx, mut rx) = test_sender();
         let mut overlay = RequestUserInputOverlay::new(
             request_event("turn-1", vec![question_with_options("q1", "Pick one")]),
@@ -1769,12 +1783,19 @@ mod tests {
         overlay.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Tab));
         overlay.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Esc));
 
-        assert_eq!(overlay.done, true);
-        expect_interrupt_only(&mut rx);
+        let answer = overlay.current_answer().expect("answer missing");
+        assert_eq!(overlay.done, false);
+        assert!(matches!(overlay.focus, Focus::Options));
+        assert_eq!(overlay.notes_ui_visible(), false);
+        assert_eq!(overlay.composer.current_text_with_pending(), "");
+        assert_eq!(answer.draft.text, "");
+        assert_eq!(answer.options_state.selected_idx, Some(0));
+        assert_eq!(answer.answer_committed, false);
+        assert!(rx.try_recv().is_err());
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn esc_in_notes_mode_interrupts_with_notes_visible() {
+    fn esc_in_notes_mode_with_text_clears_notes_and_hides_ui() {
         let (tx, mut rx) = test_sender();
         let mut overlay = RequestUserInputOverlay::new(
             request_event("turn-1", vec![question_with_options("q1", "Pick one")]),
@@ -1791,8 +1812,15 @@ mod tests {
         overlay.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Char('a')));
         overlay.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Esc));
 
-        assert_eq!(overlay.done, true);
-        expect_interrupt_only(&mut rx);
+        let answer = overlay.current_answer().expect("answer missing");
+        assert_eq!(overlay.done, false);
+        assert!(matches!(overlay.focus, Focus::Options));
+        assert_eq!(overlay.notes_ui_visible(), false);
+        assert_eq!(overlay.composer.current_text_with_pending(), "");
+        assert_eq!(answer.draft.text, "");
+        assert_eq!(answer.options_state.selected_idx, Some(0));
+        assert_eq!(answer.answer_committed, false);
+        assert!(rx.try_recv().is_err());
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/request_user_input/snapshots/codex_tui__bottom_pane__request_user_input__tests__request_user_input_options_notes_visible.snap b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/request_user_input/snapshots/codex_tui__bottom_pane__request_user_input__tests__request_user_input_options_notes_visible.snap
index d9d219b6275..a4540a2b264 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/request_user_input/snapshots/codex_tui__bottom_pane__request_user_input__tests__request_user_input_options_notes_visible.snap
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/request_user_input/snapshots/codex_tui__bottom_pane__request_user_input__tests__request_user_input_options_notes_visible.snap
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ---
 source: tui/src/bottom_pane/request_user_input/mod.rs
+assertion_line: 2321
 expression: "render_snapshot(&overlay, area)"
 ---
                                                                                                                         
@@ -16,4 +17,4 @@ expression: "render_snapshot(&overlay, area)"
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
-  tab to clear notes | enter to submit answer | esc to interrupt
+  tab or esc to clear notes | enter to submit answer
diff --git a/docs/tui-request-user-input.md b/docs/tui-request-user-input.md
index f8eb7aeb73e..8ca6f5369bb 100644
--- a/docs/tui-request-user-input.md
+++ b/docs/tui-request-user-input.md
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ friction for freeform input.
 - Enter advances to the next question.
 - Enter on the last question submits all answers.
 - PageUp/PageDown navigate across questions (when multiple are present).
-- Esc interrupts the run.
+- Esc interrupts the run in option selection mode.
+- When notes are open for an option question, Tab or Esc clears notes and returns
+  to option selection.
 
 ## Layout priorities