diff --git a/lib/repl.js b/lib/repl.js
index 6621a4d9e8131e..eb9152d9ce0266 100644
--- a/lib/repl.js
+++ b/lib/repl.js
@@ -986,7 +986,9 @@ function REPLServer(prompt,
       clearPreview(key);
       if (!reverseSearch(d, key)) {
         ttyWrite(d, key);
-        showPreview();
+        if (key.name !== 'escape') {
+          showPreview();
+        }
       }
       return;
     }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-repl-history-navigation.js b/test/parallel/test-repl-history-navigation.js
index 527cf235bddd21..29cb7816f0feb0 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-repl-history-navigation.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-repl-history-navigation.js
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ const tests = [
       // 10. Word right. Cleanup
       '\x1B[0K', '\x1B[3G', '\x1B[7C', ' // n', '\x1B[10G',
       // 11. ESCAPE
-      '\x1B[0K', ' // n', '\x1B[10G', '\x1B[0K',
+      '\x1B[0K',
       // 12. ENTER
       '\r\n',
       'Uncaught ReferenceError: functio is not defined\n',