diff --git a/lua/plugins/custom/filetree.lua b/lua/plugins/custom/filetree.lua
index 207293f..783d3eb 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/custom/filetree.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/custom/filetree.lua
@@ -337,6 +337,7 @@ return {
 				width = 40,
 				mapping_options = { noremap = true, nowait = true },
 				mappings = {
+					['<ESC>'] = function() end, -- override with an empty function to disable <ESC>
 					['<cr>'] = smart_open,
 					['v'] = function(state)
 						smart_open_split(state, 'h')
diff --git a/lua/plugins/custom/telescope.lua b/lua/plugins/custom/telescope.lua
index 512e2e1..1e95602 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/custom/telescope.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/custom/telescope.lua
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ return {
 						['<C-u>'] = false,
 						['<C-d>'] = false,
 					},
+					n = {
+						-- disable ESC
+						['<ESC>'] = false,
+					},
 				},
 			},
 		}