diff --git a/doc/help/commands.asciidoc b/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
index 104478c10..c14f23b81 100644
--- a/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
+++ b/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
@@ -685,6 +685,7 @@ How many steps to zoom out.
 [options="header",width="75%",cols="25%,75%"]
 |==============
 |Command|Description
+|<<clear-keychain,clear-keychain>>|Clear the currently entered key chain. 
 |<<command-accept,command-accept>>|Execute the command currently in the commandline.
 |<<command-history-next,command-history-next>>|Go forward in the commandline history.
 |<<command-history-prev,command-history-prev>>|Go back in the commandline history.
@@ -739,6 +740,10 @@ How many steps to zoom out.
 |<<toggle-selection,toggle-selection>>|Toggle caret selection mode.
 |<<yank-selected,yank-selected>>|Yank the selected text to the clipboard or primary selection.
 |==============
+[[clear-keychain]]
+=== clear-keychain
+Clear the currently entered key chain.
+
 [[command-accept]]
 === command-accept
 Execute the command currently in the commandline.
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
index ad269d212..f9b0470c7 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
@@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@ KEY_DATA = collections.OrderedDict([
     ])),
 
     ('normal', collections.OrderedDict([
-        ('search', ['<Escape>']),
+        ('search ;; clear-keychain', ['<Escape>']),
         ('set-cmd-text -s :open', ['o']),
         ('set-cmd-text :open {url}', ['go']),
         ('set-cmd-text -s :open -t', ['O']),
@@ -1354,4 +1354,6 @@ CHANGED_KEY_COMMANDS = [
     (re.compile(r'^scroll 0 -50$'), r'scroll up'),
     (re.compile(r'^scroll 50 0$'), r'scroll right'),
     (re.compile(r'^scroll ([-\d]+ [-\d]+)$'), r'scroll-px \1'),
+
+    (re.compile(r'^search$'), r'search ;; clear-keychain'),
 ]
diff --git a/qutebrowser/keyinput/basekeyparser.py b/qutebrowser/keyinput/basekeyparser.py
index 1c2c9ab86..d19e7ad9a 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/keyinput/basekeyparser.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/keyinput/basekeyparser.py
@@ -165,12 +165,6 @@ class BaseKeyParser(QObject):
         key = e.key()
         self._debug_log("Got key: 0x{:x} / text: '{}'".format(key, txt))
 
-        if key == Qt.Key_Escape:
-            self._debug_log("Escape pressed, discarding '{}'.".format(
-                self._keystring))
-            self._keystring = ''
-            return self.Match.none
-
         if len(txt) == 1:
             category = unicodedata.category(txt)
             is_control_char = (category == 'Cc')
@@ -306,6 +300,7 @@ class BaseKeyParser(QObject):
             True if the event was handled, False otherwise.
         """
         handled = self._handle_special_key(e)
+
         if handled or not self._supports_chains:
             return handled
         match = self._handle_single_key(e)
@@ -362,3 +357,9 @@ class BaseKeyParser(QObject):
                                  "defined!")
         if mode == self._modename:
             self.read_config()
+
+    def clear_keystring(self):
+        """Clear the currently entered key sequence."""
+        self._debug_log("discarding keystring '{}'.".format(self._keystring))
+        self._keystring = ''
+        self.keystring_updated.emit(self._keystring)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/keyinput/modeman.py b/qutebrowser/keyinput/modeman.py
index 357a5ffc9..6906a8720 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/keyinput/modeman.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/keyinput/modeman.py
@@ -317,3 +317,8 @@ class ModeManager(QObject):
             return self._eventFilter_keypress(event)
         else:
             return self._eventFilter_keyrelease(event)
+
+    @cmdutils.register(instance='mode-manager', scope='window', hide=True)
+    def clear_keychain(self):
+        """Clear the currently entered key chain."""
+        self._parsers[self.mode].clear_keystring()