diff --git a/examples/demo/showcase/main.py b/examples/demo/showcase/main.py
index 3eba89786..0ae5f9a3b 100644
--- a/examples/demo/showcase/main.py
+++ b/examples/demo/showcase/main.py
@@ -255,8 +255,7 @@ class ShowcaseApp(App):
         content.add_widget(Label(text='Hello world'))
         content.add_widget(btnclose)
         popup = Popup(content=content, title='Modal popup example',
-                      size_hint=(None, None), size=('300dp', '300dp'),
-                      auto_dismiss=False)
+                      size_hint=(None, None), size=('300dp', '300dp'))
         btnclose.bind(on_release=popup.dismiss)
         button = Button(text='Open popup', size_hint=(None, None),
                         size=('150sp', '70dp'),
diff --git a/kivy/uix/gridlayout.py b/kivy/uix/gridlayout.py
index bbf7197b0..559946244 100644
--- a/kivy/uix/gridlayout.py
+++ b/kivy/uix/gridlayout.py
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class GridLayout(Layout):
     '''
 
     spacing = NumericProperty(0)
-    '''Spacing between widget box and children, in pixels.
+    '''Spacing between children, in pixels.
 
     :data:`spacing` is a :class:`~kivy.properties.NumericProperty`, default to
     0.
diff --git a/kivy/uix/modalview.py b/kivy/uix/modalview.py
index 1ed15af5b..92ebe7a18 100644
--- a/kivy/uix/modalview.py
+++ b/kivy/uix/modalview.py
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ view from closing by explictly returning True from your callback ::
     view.bind(on_dismiss=my_callback)
     view.open()
 
+
+.. versionchanged:: 1.5.0
+
+    The ModalView can be closed by hitting escape key on the keyboard, if the
+    :data:`ModalView.auto_dismiss` is allowed.
+
 '''
 
 __all__ = ('ModalView', )
@@ -165,10 +171,13 @@ class ModalView(AnchorLayout):
             Logger.warning('ModalView: cannot open view, no window found.')
             return self
         self._window.add_widget(self)
-        self._window.bind(on_resize=self._align_center)
+        self._window.bind(
+            on_resize=self._align_center,
+            on_keyboard=self._handle_keyboard)
         self.center = self._window.center
-        Animation(_anim_alpha=1., d=self._anim_duration).start(self)
-        self.dispatch('on_open')
+        a = Animation(_anim_alpha=1., d=self._anim_duration)
+        a.bind(on_complete=lambda *x: self.dispatch('on_open'))
+        a.start(self)
         return self
 
     def dismiss(self, *largs, **kwargs):
@@ -226,7 +235,9 @@ class ModalView(AnchorLayout):
     def on__anim_alpha(self, instance, value):
         if value == 0 and self._window is not None:
             self._window.remove_widget(self)
-            self._window.unbind(on_resize=self._align_center)
+            self._window.unbind(
+                on_resize=self._align_center,
+                on_keyboard=self._handle_keyboard)
             self._window = None
 
     def on_open(self):
@@ -235,6 +246,11 @@ class ModalView(AnchorLayout):
     def on_dismiss(self):
         pass
 
+    def _handle_keyboard(self, window, key, *largs):
+        if key == 27 and self.auto_dismiss:
+            self.dismiss()
+            return True
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     from kivy.base import runTouchApp