diff --git a/src/ScreenshotManager.vala b/src/ScreenshotManager.vala
index b3c04105..78653d4d 100644
--- a/src/ScreenshotManager.vala
+++ b/src/ScreenshotManager.vala
@@ -139,6 +139,10 @@ namespace Gala
 			yield;
 			selection_area.destroy ();
 
+			if (selection_area.cancelled) {
+				throw new GLib.IOError.CANCELLED ("Operation was cancelled");
+			}
+
 			yield wait_stage_repaint ();
 			selection_area.get_selection_rectangle (out x, out y, out width, out height);
 		}
diff --git a/src/Widgets/SelectionArea.vala b/src/Widgets/SelectionArea.vala
index 30d8616e..13f5ad6b 100644
--- a/src/Widgets/SelectionArea.vala
+++ b/src/Widgets/SelectionArea.vala
@@ -16,13 +16,15 @@
 //
 
 namespace Gala
-{ 
+{
     public class SelectionArea : Clutter.Actor
     {
         public signal void closed ();
 
         public WindowManager wm { get; construct; }
 
+        public bool cancelled { get; private set; }
+
         private ModalProxy? modal_proxy;
         private Gdk.Point start_point;
         private Gdk.Point end_point;
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ namespace Gala
         {
             if (e.keyval == Clutter.Key.Escape) {
                 close ();
+                cancelled = true;
                 closed ();
                 return true;
             }
@@ -87,6 +90,7 @@ namespace Gala
 
             if (!dragging) {
                 close ();
+                cancelled = true;
                 closed ();
                 return true;
             }
@@ -167,4 +171,4 @@ namespace Gala
             return true;
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}