diff --git a/gui/launcher.cpp b/gui/launcher.cpp
index 8e4d67ba268..f212b4828b2 100644
--- a/gui/launcher.cpp
+++ b/gui/launcher.cpp
@@ -540,6 +540,14 @@ LauncherDialog::~LauncherDialog() {
 	delete _browser;
 }
 
+void LauncherDialog::open() {
+	// Clear the active domain, in case we return to the dialog from a
+	// failure to launch a game. Otherwise, pressing ESC will attempt to
+	// re-launch the same game again.
+	ConfMan.setActiveDomain("");
+	Dialog::open();
+}
+
 void LauncherDialog::close() {
 	// Save last selection
 	const int sel = _list->getSelected();
diff --git a/gui/launcher.h b/gui/launcher.h
index 7b456a2dbd9..a8c76f4cfeb 100644
--- a/gui/launcher.h
+++ b/gui/launcher.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ protected:
 	void updateListing();
 	void updateButtons();
 
+	void open();
 	void close();
 	virtual void addGame();
 	void removeGame(int item);