That's because LastKey() doesn't change until you type something. Try this to clear the value from LastKey():

IF LastKey() = 27
   KEYBOARD CHR(255)
   INKEY()  && eat the character we just keyboarded
   RETURN .T.
ENDIF

HTH

>thanks. i tried it and it works, but if i click elsewhere on the form it bypasses the validity check on the text box, maybe i put it in the wrong spot?