diff --git a/source/core/src/main/com/csse3200/game/components/maingame/MainGameDisplay.java b/source/core/src/main/com/csse3200/game/components/maingame/MainGameDisplay.java
index e4849623e..71887854d 100644
--- a/source/core/src/main/com/csse3200/game/components/maingame/MainGameDisplay.java
+++ b/source/core/src/main/com/csse3200/game/components/maingame/MainGameDisplay.java
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.utils.ClickListener;
 import com.badlogic.gdx.utils.Array;
 import com.csse3200.game.GdxGame;
+import com.csse3200.game.components.pausemenu.PauseMenuButtonComponent;
+import com.csse3200.game.entities.Entity;
 import com.csse3200.game.entities.factories.PauseMenuFactory;
 import com.csse3200.game.screens.TowerType;
 import com.csse3200.game.services.ServiceLocator;
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ public class MainGameDisplay extends UIComponent {
     private ImageButton tower4;
     private ImageButton tower5;
     private LevelProgressBar progressbar;
+    private Entity pauseMenu;
 
     /**
      * The constructor for the display
@@ -150,17 +153,20 @@ public void changed(ChangeEvent changeEvent, Actor actor) {
                     }
                 });
 
+
         // Pause menu escape key opening listener
         stage.addListener(
                 new InputListener() {
                     @Override
                     public boolean keyUp(InputEvent event, int keycode) {
                         if ((keycode == Input.Keys.ESCAPE) && !ServiceLocator.getTimeSource().getPaused()) {
-                            game.getScreen().pause();
                             openSound.play(0.4f);
-                            PauseMenuFactory.createPauseMenu(game);
+                            pauseMenu = PauseMenuFactory.createPauseMenu(game);
                             ServiceLocator.getTimeSource().setPaused(true);
                             return true;
+                        } else if ((keycode == Input.Keys.ESCAPE) && ServiceLocator.getTimeSource().getPaused()) {
+                            pauseMenu.dispose();
+                            return false;
                         }
                         return false;
                     }
diff --git a/source/core/src/main/com/csse3200/game/components/pausemenu/PauseMenuButtonComponent.java b/source/core/src/main/com/csse3200/game/components/pausemenu/PauseMenuButtonComponent.java
index 15c0f839d..5f37a68ed 100644
--- a/source/core/src/main/com/csse3200/game/components/pausemenu/PauseMenuButtonComponent.java
+++ b/source/core/src/main/com/csse3200/game/components/pausemenu/PauseMenuButtonComponent.java
@@ -105,23 +105,23 @@ public void changed(ChangeEvent changeEvent, Actor actor) {
                     }
                 });
 
-        window.addListener(
-                new InputListener() {
-
-                    @Override
-                    public boolean keyUp (InputEvent event, int keycode) {
-                        if (keycode == Input.Keys.ESCAPE && ServiceLocator.getTimeSource().getPaused()) {
-                            logger.debug("Closing pause menu with escape key");
-                            click.play(0.5f);
-                            closeSound.play(0.5f);
-                            ServiceLocator.getTimeSource().setPaused(false);
-                            entity.dispose();
-                            return true;
-                        }
-                        return false;
-                    }
-                }
-        );
+//        window.addListener(
+//                new InputListener() {
+//
+//                    @Override
+//                    public boolean keyUp (InputEvent event, int keycode) {
+//                        if (keycode == Input.Keys.ESCAPE && ServiceLocator.getTimeSource().getPaused()) {
+//                            logger.debug("Closing pause menu with escape key");
+//                            click.play(0.5f);
+//                            closeSound.play(0.5f);
+//                            ServiceLocator.getTimeSource().setPaused(false);
+//                            entity.dispose();
+//                            return true;
+//                        }
+//                        return false;
+//                    }
+//                }
+//        );
 
 //        window.setKeepWithinStage(true);
         window.setResizable(true);
@@ -168,6 +168,9 @@ public float getZIndex() {
 
     @Override
     public void dispose() {
+        click.play(0.5f);
+        closeSound.play(0.5f);
+        ServiceLocator.getTimeSource().setPaused(false);
         window.clear();
         window.remove();
         super.dispose();