diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
index 48c23f86..de40edf1 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
@@ -1633,7 +1633,7 @@ impl ChatWidget {
                 description,
                 is_current,
                 actions,
-                dismiss_on_select: true,
+                dismiss_on_select: false,
                 ..Default::default()
             });
         }
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
index a1623e36..cd31d3a6 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
@@ -1026,6 +1026,29 @@ fn model_reasoning_selection_popup_snapshot() {
     assert_snapshot!("model_reasoning_selection_popup", popup);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn reasoning_popup_escape_returns_to_model_popup() {
+    let (mut chat, _rx, _op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual();
+
+    chat.config.model = "gpt-5".to_string();
+    chat.open_model_popup();
+
+    let presets = builtin_model_presets(None)
+        .into_iter()
+        .filter(|preset| preset.model == "gpt-5-codex")
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    chat.open_reasoning_popup("gpt-5-codex".to_string(), presets);
+
+    let before_escape = render_bottom_popup(&chat, 80);
+    assert!(before_escape.contains("Select Reasoning Level"));
+
+    chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Esc, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+
+    let after_escape = render_bottom_popup(&chat, 80);
+    assert!(after_escape.contains("Select Model"));
+    assert!(!after_escape.contains("Select Reasoning Level"));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn exec_history_extends_previous_when_consecutive() {
     let (mut chat, _rx, _op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual();