diff --git a/runtime/doc/options.txt b/runtime/doc/options.txt
index 6f38bc0..86a734f 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/options.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/options.txt
@@ -9253,6 +9253,8 @@
 	The character is not recognized when used inside a macro.  See
 	'wildcharm' for that.
 	Some keys will not work, such as CTRL-C, <CR> and Enter.
+	<Esc> can be used, but hitting it twice in a row will still exit
+	command-line as a failsafe measure.
 	Although 'wc' is a number option, you can set it to a special key: >
 		:set wc=<Tab>
 <	NOTE: This option is set to the Vi default value when 'compatible' is
diff --git a/src/ex_getln.c b/src/ex_getln.c
index 5baffa7..711e08e 100644
--- a/src/ex_getln.c
+++ b/src/ex_getln.c
@@ -1877,7 +1877,8 @@
 	if (p_wmnu)
 	    c = wildmenu_translate_key(&ccline, c, &xpc, did_wild_list);
 
-	if (cmdline_pum_active())
+	int key_is_wc = (c == p_wc && KeyTyped) || c == p_wcm;
+	if (cmdline_pum_active() && !key_is_wc)
 	{
 	    // Ctrl-Y: Accept the current selection and close the popup menu.
 	    // Ctrl-E: cancel the cmdline popup menu and return the original
@@ -1897,7 +1898,7 @@
 	// 'wildcharm' or Ctrl-N or Ctrl-P or Ctrl-A or Ctrl-L).
 	// If the popup menu is displayed, then PageDown and PageUp keys are
 	// also used to navigate the menu.
-	end_wildmenu = (!(c == p_wc && KeyTyped) && c != p_wcm
+	end_wildmenu = (!key_is_wc
 		&& c != Ctrl_N && c != Ctrl_P && c != Ctrl_A && c != Ctrl_L);
 	end_wildmenu = end_wildmenu && (!cmdline_pum_active() ||
 			    (c != K_PAGEDOWN && c != K_PAGEUP
@@ -2504,6 +2505,15 @@
     cmdmsg_rl = FALSE;
 #endif
 
+    // We could have reached here without having a chance to clean up wild menu
+    // if certain special keys like <Esc> or <C-\> were used as wildchar. Make
+    // sure to still clean up to avoid memory corruption.
+    if (cmdline_pum_active())
+	cmdline_pum_remove();
+    wildmenu_cleanup(&ccline);
+    did_wild_list = FALSE;
+    wim_index = 0;
+
     ExpandCleanup(&xpc);
     ccline.xpc = NULL;
 
diff --git a/src/option.c b/src/option.c
index 53e956c..180aca2 100644
--- a/src/option.c
+++ b/src/option.c
@@ -4393,6 +4393,21 @@
 }
 
 /*
+ * Process the new 'wildchar' / 'wildcharm' option value.
+ */
+    char *
+did_set_wildchar(optset_T *args)
+{
+    long c = *(long *)args->os_varp;
+
+    // Don't allow key values that wouldn't work as wildchar.
+    if (c == Ctrl_C || c == '\n' || c == '\r' || c == K_KENTER)
+	return e_invalid_argument;
+
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+/*
  * Process the new 'window' option value.
  */
     char *
diff --git a/src/optiondefs.h b/src/optiondefs.h
index c4810e7..d5887e1 100644
--- a/src/optiondefs.h
+++ b/src/optiondefs.h
@@ -2812,11 +2812,11 @@
 			    (char_u *)&p_ww, PV_NONE, did_set_whichwrap, expand_set_whichwrap,
 			    {(char_u *)"", (char_u *)"b,s"} SCTX_INIT},
     {"wildchar",    "wc",   P_NUM|P_VIM,
-			    (char_u *)&p_wc, PV_NONE, NULL, NULL,
+			    (char_u *)&p_wc, PV_NONE, did_set_wildchar, NULL,
 			    {(char_u *)(long)Ctrl_E, (char_u *)(long)TAB}
 			    SCTX_INIT},
     {"wildcharm",   "wcm",  P_NUM|P_VI_DEF,
-			    (char_u *)&p_wcm, PV_NONE, NULL, NULL,
+			    (char_u *)&p_wcm, PV_NONE, did_set_wildchar, NULL,
 			    {(char_u *)0L, (char_u *)0L} SCTX_INIT},
     {"wildignore",  "wig",  P_STRING|P_VI_DEF|P_ONECOMMA|P_NODUP,
 			    (char_u *)&p_wig, PV_NONE, NULL, NULL,
diff --git a/src/proto/option.pro b/src/proto/option.pro
index ec0013d..effa813 100644
--- a/src/proto/option.pro
+++ b/src/proto/option.pro
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@
 char *did_set_undolevels(optset_T *args);
 char *did_set_updatecount(optset_T *args);
 char *did_set_weirdinvert(optset_T *args);
+char *did_set_wildchar(optset_T *args);
 char *did_set_window(optset_T *args);
 char *did_set_winheight_helpheight(optset_T *args);
 char *did_set_winminheight(optset_T *args);
diff --git a/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_5.dump b/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_5.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca9c5be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_5.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+| +0&#ffffff0@74
+|~+0#4040ff13&| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|:+0#0000000&|v|i|m| > @69
diff --git a/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_6.dump b/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_6.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b7ef83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_6.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+> +0&#ffffff0@74
+|~+0#4040ff13&| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+| +0#0000000&@56|0|,|0|-|1| @8|A|l@1| 
diff --git a/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_pum_clear_entries_1.dump b/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_1.dump
similarity index 100%
rename from src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_pum_clear_entries_1.dump
rename to src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_1.dump
diff --git a/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_2.dump b/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_2.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2887895
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_2.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+| +0#0000001#ffd7ff255|!| @14| +0#0000000#0000001| +0&#ffffff0@56
+| +0#0000001#e0e0e08|#| @14| +0#0000000#a8a8a8255| +0#4040ff13#ffffff0@56
+| +0#0000001#ffd7ff255|&| @14| +0#0000000#a8a8a8255| +0#4040ff13#ffffff0@56
+| +0#0000001#ffd7ff255|*| @14| +0#0000000#a8a8a8255| +0#4040ff13#ffffff0@56
+| +0#0000001#ffd7ff255|+@1| @13| +0#0000000#a8a8a8255| +0#4040ff13#ffffff0@56
+| +0#0000001#ffd7ff255|-@1| @13| +0#0000000#a8a8a8255| +0#4040ff13#ffffff0@56
+| +0#0000001#ffd7ff255|<| @14| +0#0000000#a8a8a8255| +0#4040ff13#ffffff0@56
+| +0#0000001#ffd7ff255|=| @14| +0#0000000#a8a8a8255| +0#4040ff13#ffffff0@56
+| +0#0000001#ffd7ff255|>| @14| +0#0000000#a8a8a8255| +0#4040ff13#ffffff0@56
+|:+0#0000000&|#> @72
diff --git a/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_3.dump b/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_3.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..270a233
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/testdir/dumps/Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_3.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+> +0&#ffffff0@74
+|~+0#4040ff13&| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+|~| @73
+| +0#0000000&@56|0|,|0|-|1| @8|A|l@1| 
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_cmdline.vim b/src/testdir/test_cmdline.vim
index ddfeba2..c285b08 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_cmdline.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_cmdline.vim
@@ -171,6 +171,7 @@
   [SCRIPT]
   call writefile(lines, 'XTest_wildmenu', 'D')
 
+  " Test simple wildmenu
   let buf = RunVimInTerminal('-S XTest_wildmenu', {'rows': 8})
   call term_sendkeys(buf, ":vim\<Tab>")
   call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_1', {})
@@ -181,9 +182,23 @@
   call term_sendkeys(buf, "\<Tab>")
   call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_3', {})
 
+  " Looped back to the original value
   call term_sendkeys(buf, "\<Tab>\<Tab>")
   call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_4', {})
+
+  " Test that the wild menu is cleared properly
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, " ")
+  call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_5', {})
+
+  " Test that a different wildchar still works
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, "\<Esc>:set wildchar=<Esc>\<CR>")
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, ":vim\<Esc>")
+  call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_1', {})
+
+  " Double-<Esc> is a hard-coded method to escape while wildchar=<Esc>. Make
+  " sure clean up is properly done in edge case like this.
   call term_sendkeys(buf, "\<Esc>")
+  call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_6', {})
 
   " clean up
   call StopVimInTerminal(buf)
@@ -2636,10 +2651,11 @@
   call StopVimInTerminal(buf)
 endfunc
 
-func Test_wildmenu_pum_clear_entries()
+func Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar()
   CheckRunVimInTerminal
 
-  " This was using freed memory.  Run in a terminal to get the pum to update.
+  " Test odd wildchar interactions with pum. Make sure they behave properly
+  " and don't lead to memory corruption due to improperly cleaned up memory.
   let lines =<< trim END
     set wildoptions=pum
     set wildchar=<C-E>
@@ -2647,10 +2663,35 @@
   call writefile(lines, 'XwildmenuTest', 'D')
   let buf = RunVimInTerminal('-S XwildmenuTest', #{rows: 10})
 
-  call term_sendkeys(buf, ":\<C-E>\<C-E>")
-  call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_pum_clear_entries_1', {})
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, ":\<C-E>")
+  call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_1', {})
 
-  set wildoptions& wildchar&
+  " <C-E> being a wildchar takes priority over its original functionality
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, "\<C-E>")
+  call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_2', {})
+
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, "\<Esc>")
+  call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_3', {})
+
+  " Escape key can be wildchar too. Double-<Esc> is hard-coded to escape
+  " command-line, and we need to make sure to clean up properly.
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, ":set wildchar=<Esc>\<CR>")
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, ":\<Esc>")
+  call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_1', {})
+
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, "\<Esc>")
+  call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_3', {})
+
+  " <C-\> can also be wildchar. <C-\><C-N> however will still escape cmdline
+  " and we again need to make sure we clean up properly.
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, ":set wildchar=<C-\\>\<CR>")
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, ":\<C-\>\<C-\>")
+  call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_1', {})
+
+  call term_sendkeys(buf, "\<C-N>")
+  call VerifyScreenDump(buf, 'Test_wildmenu_pum_odd_wildchar_3', {})
+
+  call StopVimInTerminal(buf)
 endfunc
 
 " Test for completion after a :substitute command followed by a pipe (|)
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_options.vim b/src/testdir/test_options.vim
index ba08089..6b2b748 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_options.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_options.vim
@@ -228,6 +228,11 @@
   call assert_fails(":set kmp=trunc\x00name", "trunc")
 endfunc
 
+func Test_wildchar_valid()
+  call assert_fails("set wildchar=<CR>", "E474:")
+  call assert_fails("set wildcharm=<C-C>", "E474:")
+endfunc
+
 func Check_dir_option(name)
   " Check that it's possible to set the option.
   exe 'set ' . a:name . '=/usr/share/dict/words'
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 695b0cd..6f39f95 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -705,6 +705,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    2035,
+/**/
     2034,
 /**/
     2033,