diff --git a/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/notebook.js b/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/notebook.js
index d8b287683..1b973b2a5 100644
--- a/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/notebook.js
+++ b/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/notebook.js
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ var IPython = (function (IPython) {
         var that = this;
         $(document).keydown(function (event) {
             // console.log(event);
-            if (that.read_only) return false;
+            if (that.read_only) return true;
             if (event.which === 27) {
                 // Intercept escape at highest level to avoid closing 
                 // websocket connection with firefox