diff --git a/apps/docs/src/routes/components/alert-dialog.tsx b/apps/docs/src/routes/components/alert-dialog.tsx
index b6767d3..7492946 100644
--- a/apps/docs/src/routes/components/alert-dialog.tsx
+++ b/apps/docs/src/routes/components/alert-dialog.tsx
@@ -73,8 +73,9 @@ function AlertDialogDocs() {
       <Section id="behavior" title="Behavior">
         <p>
           Opening traps focus and announces both title and description. Closing
-          returns focus to the trigger. Use Dialog for ordinary tasks and forms;
-          reserve Alert Dialog for a decision that requires explicit attention.
+          with Escape, the backdrop, or either action returns focus to the
+          trigger. Use Dialog for ordinary tasks and forms; reserve Alert Dialog
+          for a decision that requires explicit attention.
         </p>
       </Section>
     </DocsPage>
diff --git a/packages/dowel/src/components/alert-dialog/alert-dialog.test.tsx b/packages/dowel/src/components/alert-dialog/alert-dialog.test.tsx
index f200fef..58df6a1 100644
--- a/packages/dowel/src/components/alert-dialog/alert-dialog.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/dowel/src/components/alert-dialog/alert-dialog.test.tsx
@@ -55,6 +55,21 @@ describe("AlertDialog", () => {
     expect(onConfirm).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
   });
 
+  it("dismisses on a backdrop click and returns focus", async () => {
+    render(<Example />);
+    const trigger = screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Delete repository" });
+    await userEvent.click(trigger);
+
+    const backdrop = document.querySelector(
+      '[data-dowel-component="alert-dialog-backdrop"]',
+    );
+    expect(backdrop).not.toBeNull();
+    await userEvent.click(backdrop!);
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole("alertdialog")).toBeNull());
+    await waitFor(() => expect(document.activeElement).toBe(trigger));
+  });
+
   it("carries the active theme into its portal", async () => {
     render(
       <ThemeProvider theme="dark">
diff --git a/packages/dowel/src/components/alert-dialog/index.tsx b/packages/dowel/src/components/alert-dialog/index.tsx
index ca22912..561c190 100644
--- a/packages/dowel/src/components/alert-dialog/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/dowel/src/components/alert-dialog/index.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 import { AlertDialog as BaseAlertDialog } from "@base-ui/react/alert-dialog";
+import type {
+  AlertDialogRootActions,
+  AlertDialogRootProps,
+} from "@base-ui/react/alert-dialog";
 import * as stylex from "@stylexjs/stylex";
-import { forwardRef, useContext } from "react";
-import type { ComponentPropsWithoutRef } from "react";
+import { createContext, forwardRef, useContext, useRef } from "react";
+import type { ComponentPropsWithoutRef, RefObject } from "react";
 
 import { DowelThemeContext, themeStyles } from "../../theme/theme-provider";
 import * as styles from "../dialog/dialog.stylex";
@@ -19,8 +23,23 @@ function partProps(style: stylex.StyleXStyles) {
   return { className: resolved.className, style: resolved.style };
 }
 
+const AlertDialogActionsContext = createContext<
+  RefObject<AlertDialogRootActions | null> | undefined
+>(undefined);
+
 export const AlertDialog = {
-  Root: BaseAlertDialog.Root,
+  Root: function AlertDialogRoot<Payload>(
+    props: AlertDialogRootProps<Payload>,
+  ) {
+    const fallbackActionsRef = useRef<AlertDialogRootActions>(null);
+    const actionsRef = props.actionsRef ?? fallbackActionsRef;
+
+    return (
+      <AlertDialogActionsContext.Provider value={actionsRef}>
+        <BaseAlertDialog.Root {...props} actionsRef={actionsRef} />
+      </AlertDialogActionsContext.Provider>
+    );
+  },
 
   Trigger: function AlertDialogTrigger(
     props: Props<typeof BaseAlertDialog.Trigger>,
@@ -52,11 +71,20 @@ export const AlertDialog = {
   Backdrop: function AlertDialogBackdrop(
     props: Props<typeof BaseAlertDialog.Backdrop>,
   ) {
+    const actionsRef = useContext(AlertDialogActionsContext);
+    const { onClick, ...backdropProps } = props;
+
     return (
       <BaseAlertDialog.Backdrop
-        {...props}
+        {...backdropProps}
         {...partProps(styles.backdrop.root)}
         data-dowel-component="alert-dialog-backdrop"
+        onClick={(event) => {
+          onClick?.(event);
+          if (!event.defaultPrevented && event.target === event.currentTarget) {
+            actionsRef?.current?.close();
+          }
+        }}
       />
     );
   },