diff --git a/src/engine/client/client.cpp b/src/engine/client/client.cpp
index 370775d4a..2665ee0c5 100644
--- a/src/engine/client/client.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/client/client.cpp
@@ -4535,6 +4535,12 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 	SDL_SetHint("SDL_IME_SHOW_UI", "1");
 #endif
 
+#if defined(CONF_PLATFORM_ANDROID)
+	// Trap the Android back button so it can be handled in our code reliably
+	// instead of letting the system handle it.
+	SDL_SetHint("SDL_ANDROID_TRAP_BACK_BUTTON", "1");
+#endif
+
 	// init SDL
 	if(SDL_Init(0) < 0)
 	{
diff --git a/src/engine/client/input.cpp b/src/engine/client/input.cpp
index 34cee2443..5632e1ef1 100644
--- a/src/engine/client/input.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/client/input.cpp
@@ -538,6 +538,40 @@ void CInput::SetCompositionWindowPosition(float X, float Y, float H)
 	SDL_SetTextInputRect(&Rect);
 }
 
+static int TranslateScancode(const SDL_KeyboardEvent &KeyEvent)
+{
+	// See SDL_Keymod for possible modifiers:
+	// NONE   =     0
+	// LSHIFT =     1
+	// RSHIFT =     2
+	// LCTRL  =    64
+	// RCTRL  =   128
+	// LALT   =   256
+	// RALT   =   512
+	// LGUI   =  1024
+	// RGUI   =  2048
+	// NUM    =  4096
+	// CAPS   =  8192
+	// MODE   = 16384
+	// Sum if you want to ignore multiple modifiers.
+	if(KeyEvent.keysym.mod & g_Config.m_InpIgnoredModifiers)
+	{
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	int Scancode = g_Config.m_InpTranslatedKeys ? SDL_GetScancodeFromKey(KeyEvent.keysym.sym) : KeyEvent.keysym.scancode;
+
+#if defined(CONF_PLATFORM_ANDROID)
+	// Translate the Android back-button to the escape-key so it can be used to open/close the menu, close popups etc.
+	if(Scancode == KEY_AC_BACK)
+	{
+		Scancode = KEY_ESCAPE;
+	}
+#endif
+
+	return Scancode;
+}
+
 int CInput::Update()
 {
 	const int64_t Now = time_get();
@@ -607,28 +641,11 @@ int CInput::Update()
 
 		// handle keys
 		case SDL_KEYDOWN:
-			// See SDL_Keymod for possible modifiers:
-			// NONE   =     0
-			// LSHIFT =     1
-			// RSHIFT =     2
-			// LCTRL  =    64
-			// RCTRL  =   128
-			// LALT   =   256
-			// RALT   =   512
-			// LGUI   =  1024
-			// RGUI   =  2048
-			// NUM    =  4096
-			// CAPS   =  8192
-			// MODE   = 16384
-			// Sum if you want to ignore multiple modifiers.
-			if(!(Event.key.keysym.mod & g_Config.m_InpIgnoredModifiers))
-			{
-				Scancode = g_Config.m_InpTranslatedKeys ? SDL_GetScancodeFromKey(Event.key.keysym.sym) : Event.key.keysym.scancode;
-			}
+			Scancode = TranslateScancode(Event.key);
 			break;
 		case SDL_KEYUP:
 			Action = IInput::FLAG_RELEASE;
-			Scancode = g_Config.m_InpTranslatedKeys ? SDL_GetScancodeFromKey(Event.key.keysym.sym) : Event.key.keysym.scancode;
+			Scancode = TranslateScancode(Event.key);
 			break;
 
 		// handle the joystick events