diff --git a/pdex/src/processing/mode/experimental/CompletionPanel.java b/pdex/src/processing/mode/experimental/CompletionPanel.java
index ff2b7384a..a8f44d190 100644
--- a/pdex/src/processing/mode/experimental/CompletionPanel.java
+++ b/pdex/src/processing/mode/experimental/CompletionPanel.java
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public class CompletionPanel {
       public void mouseClicked(MouseEvent e) {
         if (e.getClickCount() == 2) {
           insertSelection();
-          hideSuggestion();
+          hide();
         }
       }
     });
@@ -137,12 +137,12 @@ public class CompletionPanel {
       } catch (BadLocationException e1) {
         e1.printStackTrace();
       }
-      hideSuggestion();
+      hide();
     }
     return false;
   }
 
-  public void hideSuggestion() {
+  public void hide() {
     popupMenu.setVisible(false);
     log("Suggestion hidden" + System.nanoTime());
     //textarea.errorCheckerService.getASTGenerator().jdocWindowVisible(false);
diff --git a/pdex/src/processing/mode/experimental/TextArea.java b/pdex/src/processing/mode/experimental/TextArea.java
index beb084683..940267395 100644
--- a/pdex/src/processing/mode/experimental/TextArea.java
+++ b/pdex/src/processing/mode/experimental/TextArea.java
@@ -173,11 +173,18 @@ public class TextArea extends JEditTextArea {
       case KeyEvent.VK_BACK_SPACE:
         log("BK Key");
         break;
+      case KeyEvent.VK_SPACE:
+        if (suggestion != null)
+          if (suggestion.isVisible()) {
+            log("Space bar, hide completion list");
+            suggestion.hide();
+          }
+        break;
       default:
         break;
       }
     }
-      super.processKeyEvent(evt);
+    super.processKeyEvent(evt);
       
     if (evt.getID() == KeyEvent.KEY_TYPED) {
       final KeyEvent evt2 = evt;
@@ -259,20 +266,14 @@ public class TextArea extends JEditTextArea {
     }
   }
   private String fetchPhrase(KeyEvent evt) {
-    if (evt != null) {
-      char keyChar = evt.getKeyChar();
-      if (keyChar == KeyEvent.VK_ENTER) {
-        //log("Enter keypress.");
-        return null;
-      }
-//    if (keyChar == KeyEvent.VK_BACK_SPACE || keyChar == KeyEvent.VK_DELETE)
-//      ; // accepted these keys
-      else if (keyChar == KeyEvent.VK_ESCAPE) {
-        //log("ESC keypress.  fetchPhrase()");
-        return null;
-      } else if (keyChar == KeyEvent.VK_TAB || keyChar == KeyEvent.CHAR_UNDEFINED) {
-        return null;
-      }
+    char keyChar = evt.getKeyChar();
+    if (keyChar == KeyEvent.VK_ENTER) {
+      return null;
+    } else if (keyChar == KeyEvent.VK_ESCAPE) {
+      return null;
+    } else if (keyChar == KeyEvent.VK_SPACE || keyChar == KeyEvent.VK_TAB
+        || keyChar == KeyEvent.CHAR_UNDEFINED) {
+      return null;
     }
     int off = getCaretPosition();
     log2("off " + off);
@@ -741,7 +742,7 @@ public class TextArea extends JEditTextArea {
 
   private void hideSuggestion() {
     if (suggestion != null) {
-      suggestion.hideSuggestion();
+      suggestion.hide();
       suggestion = null;
     }
   }