diff --git a/src/error.c b/src/error.c
index ea9495a..c0384c3 100644
--- a/src/error.c
+++ b/src/error.c
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 
 static gamestatus status = STATUS_RUNNING;
 
+void set_gamestatus(gamestatus nstatus) {
+    status = nstatus;
+}
+
 gamestatus get_gamestatus(void) {
     return status;
 }
@@ -52,6 +56,6 @@ void error(gamestatus error_code, char const* fmt, ...) {
     SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox(SDL_MESSAGEBOX_ERROR, "something went wrong! :O", buf, NULL);
 
     // set status, but exit immediately, as code is not allowed to execute beyond this point
-    status = error_code;
+    set_gamestatus(error_code);
     exit(status);
 }
diff --git a/src/error.h b/src/error.h
index a5fe13e..f475d9d 100644
--- a/src/error.h
+++ b/src/error.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ enum {
 };
 typedef int8_t gamestatus;
 
+void set_gamestatus(gamestatus);          // sets the current status of the game
 gamestatus get_gamestatus(void);          // gets the current status of the game
 void debug(char const*, ...);             // prints a debug message to stdout if the DEBUG environment variable is set, otherwise the call is ignored.
 void info(char const*, ...);              // prints an info message to stdout
diff --git a/src/game/game.c b/src/game/game.c
index a5ed63c..ce6c44b 100644
--- a/src/game/game.c
+++ b/src/game/game.c
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 #include "game.h"
 
+#include <SDL_keyboard.h>
+#include <SDL_scancode.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+#include "../error.h"
 #include "gametime.h"
 
 void game_init(gamedata* dat) {
@@ -10,6 +17,10 @@ void game_init(gamedata* dat) {
 
 void game_update(gamedata* dat) {
     gametime_update(&dat->time);
+    uint8_t const* keys = SDL_GetKeyboardState(NULL);
+
+    if (keys[SDL_SCANCODE_ESCAPE])
+        set_gamestatus(STATUS_SUCCESS);
 }
 
 void game_free(gamedata* dat) {