diff --git a/cypress/e2e/nestedDialogs.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/nestedDialogs.cy.js
index 23c5e521..2ff44c07 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/nestedDialogs.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/nestedDialogs.cy.js
@@ -13,15 +13,15 @@ describe('Nested dialogs', () => {
   })
 
   it('should close only the top most dialog when pressing ESC', () => {
-    cy.get('body').trigger('keydown', { key: 'Escape', keyCode: 27, which: 27 })
+    cy.realPress('Escape')
     cy.get('[data-a11y-dialog="dialog-2"]').then(shouldBeVisible)
     cy.get('[data-a11y-dialog="dialog-3"]').then(shouldBeHidden)
   })
 
   it('should close only the top most dialog when clicking the backdrop', () => {
-    cy.get('body').trigger('keydown', { key: 'Escape', keyCode: 27, which: 27 })
     cy.get('[data-a11y-dialog="dialog-2"]')
       .find('.dialog-overlay')
+      .first()
       .click({ force: true })
     cy.get('[data-a11y-dialog="dialog-1"]').then(shouldBeVisible)
     cy.get('[data-a11y-dialog="dialog-2"]').then(shouldBeHidden)
diff --git a/cypress/fixtures/nested-dialogs.html b/cypress/fixtures/nested-dialogs.html
index 3400d871..964b58b4 100644
--- a/cypress/fixtures/nested-dialogs.html
+++ b/cypress/fixtures/nested-dialogs.html
@@ -21,28 +21,27 @@ <h1>Tests — Nested dialogs</h1>
       <h1 id="dialog-title-1">Dialog 1</h1>
       <button class="link-like" data-a11y-dialog-show="dialog-2">Open dialog 2</button>
     </div>
-  </div>
 
-  <div class="dialog" data-a11y-dialog="dialog-2" aria-hidden="true" aria-labelledby="dialog-title-2">
-    <div class="dialog-overlay" data-a11y-dialog-hide></div>
-    <div role="document" class="dialog-content">
-      <button data-a11y-dialog-hide class="dialog-close" aria-label="Close this dialog window">&times;</button>
+    <div class="dialog" data-a11y-dialog="dialog-2" aria-hidden="true" aria-labelledby="dialog-title-2">
+      <div class="dialog-overlay" data-a11y-dialog-hide></div>
+      <div role="document" class="dialog-content">
+        <button data-a11y-dialog-hide class="dialog-close" aria-label="Close this dialog window">&times;</button>
 
-      <h1 id="dialog-title-2">Dialog 2</h1>
-      <button class="link-like" data-a11y-dialog-show="dialog-3">Open dialog 3</button>
-    </div>
-  </div>
+        <h1 id="dialog-title-2">Dialog 2</h1>
+        <button class="link-like" data-a11y-dialog-show="dialog-3">Open dialog 3</button>
+      </div>
 
-  <div class="dialog" data-a11y-dialog="dialog-3" aria-hidden="true" aria-labelledby="dialog-title-3">
-    <div class="dialog-overlay" data-a11y-dialog-hide></div>
-    <div role="document" class="dialog-content">
-      <button data-a11y-dialog-hide class="dialog-close" aria-label="Close this dialog window">&times;</button>
+      <div class="dialog" data-a11y-dialog="dialog-3" aria-hidden="true" aria-labelledby="dialog-title-3">
+        <div class="dialog-overlay" data-a11y-dialog-hide></div>
+        <div role="document" class="dialog-content">
+          <button data-a11y-dialog-hide class="dialog-close" aria-label="Close this dialog window">&times;</button>
 
-      <h1 id="dialog-title-3">Dialog 3</h1>
+          <h1 id="dialog-title-3">Dialog 3</h1>
+        </div>
+      </div>
     </div>
   </div>
 
-
   <script src="./a11y-dialog.js"></script>
 </body>
 
diff --git a/cypress/fixtures/styles.css b/cypress/fixtures/styles.css
index 49d0878d..ecbbebbf 100644
--- a/cypress/fixtures/styles.css
+++ b/cypress/fixtures/styles.css
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ dialog[open] {
   left: 0;
   bottom: 0;
   right: 0;
+  z-index: 2;
 }
 
 .dialog {
diff --git a/src/a11y-dialog.ts b/src/a11y-dialog.ts
index 6044913d..235edd53 100644
--- a/src/a11y-dialog.ts
+++ b/src/a11y-dialog.ts
@@ -147,9 +147,9 @@ export default class A11yDialog {
     }
 
     if (
-      target.matches(
-        `[data-a11y-dialog="${this.id}"] [data-a11y-dialog-hide], #${this.id} [data-a11y-dialog-hide], [data-a11y-dialog-hide="${this.id}"]`
-      )
+      target.matches(`[data-a11y-dialog-hide="${this.id}"]`) ||
+      (target.matches('[data-a11y-dialog-hide]') &&
+        target.closest('[aria-modal="true"]') === this.$el)
     ) {
       this.hide(event)
     }
@@ -160,6 +160,12 @@ export default class A11yDialog {
    * (namely ESC and TAB)
    */
   private bindKeypress = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
+    // This is an escape hatch in case there are nested open dialogs, so that
+    // only the top most dialog gets interacted with
+    if (document.activeElement?.closest('[aria-modal="true"]') !== this.$el) {
+      return
+    }
+
     // If the dialog is shown and the ESC key is pressed, prevent any further
     // effects from the ESC key and hide the dialog, unless its role is
     // `alertdialog`, which should be modal