diff --git a/common/cli_getch.c b/common/cli_getch.c
index 61d4cb261b81..0ee790877748 100644
--- a/common/cli_getch.c
+++ b/common/cli_getch.c
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ static int cli_ch_esc(struct cli_ch_state *cch, int ichar,
 	case 1:
 		if (ichar == '[' || ichar == 'O')
 			act = ESC_SAVE;
+		else
+			act = ESC_CONVERTED;
 		break;
 	case 2:
 		switch (ichar) {
diff --git a/test/common/cread.c b/test/common/cread.c
index 2fdd29a265f7..4edc77396043 100644
--- a/test/common/cread.c
+++ b/test/common/cread.c
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ static int cli_ch_test(struct unit_test_state *uts)
 	ut_asserteq('a', cli_ch_process(cch, 'a'));
 	ut_asserteq(0, cli_ch_process(cch, 0));
 
+	/* unexpected 'Esc' */
+	ut_asserteq('a', cli_ch_process(cch, 'a'));
+	ut_asserteq(0, cli_ch_process(cch, '\e'));
+	ut_asserteq('b', cli_ch_process(cch, 'b'));
+	ut_asserteq(0, cli_ch_process(cch, 0));
+
 	return 0;
 }
 COMMON_TEST(cli_ch_test, 0);
@@ -80,6 +86,12 @@ static int cread_test(struct unit_test_state *uts)
 	ut_asserteq(7, cli_readline_into_buffer("-> ", buf, 1));
 	ut_asserteq_str("abc\e[Xx", buf);
 
+	/* unexpected 'Esc' */
+	*buf = '\0';
+	ut_asserteq(7, console_in_puts("abc\eXx\n"));
+	ut_asserteq(5, cli_readline_into_buffer("-> ", buf, 1));
+	ut_asserteq_str("abcXx", buf);
+
 	/* check timeout, should be between 1000 and 1050ms */
 	start = get_timer(0);
 	*buf = '\0';