diff --git a/datasette/static/datasette-modal.js b/datasette/static/datasette-modal.js
index 78012894..08a09e62 100644
--- a/datasette/static/datasette-modal.js
+++ b/datasette/static/datasette-modal.js
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
  * - The standard Datasette modal frame: sizing, rounded corners,
  *   backdrop, animations, and optional .modal-header scaffolding
  * - Close-on-backdrop-click and Escape key handling
+ * - Declarative cancel buttons: clicking any element inside the modal
+ *   with a `data-modal-cancel` attribute calls requestClose("cancel")
  * - A `busy` property that blocks user-initiated dismissal while an
  *   operation is in flight
  * - A `closeGuard` hook for "discard unsaved changes?" style prompts
@@ -526,6 +528,14 @@ datasette-modal .btn:disabled {
       dialog.addEventListener("click", (ev) => {
         if (ev.target === dialog) {
           this.requestClose("backdrop");
+          return;
+        }
+        // Declarative cancel buttons: any element inside the modal
+        // with a data-modal-cancel attribute requests a close
+        var cancelTrigger =
+          ev.target.closest && ev.target.closest("[data-modal-cancel]");
+        if (cancelTrigger && dialog.contains(cancelTrigger)) {
+          this.requestClose("cancel");
         }
       });
 
diff --git a/datasette/static/edit-tools.js b/datasette/static/edit-tools.js
index b656c7f5..b83d6fef 100644
--- a/datasette/static/edit-tools.js
+++ b/datasette/static/edit-tools.js
@@ -1559,7 +1559,7 @@ function ensureTableCreateDialog(manager) {
         </div>
       </div>
       <div class="modal-footer">
-        <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost table-create-cancel">Cancel</button>
+        <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost table-create-cancel" data-modal-cancel>Cancel</button>
         <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary table-create-save">Create table</button>
       </div>
     </form>
@@ -1601,10 +1601,6 @@ function ensureTableCreateDialog(manager) {
     row.querySelector(".table-create-column-name").focus();
   });
 
-  tableCreateDialogState.cancelButton.addEventListener("click", function () {
-    closeTableCreateDialogIfConfirmed(tableCreateDialogState);
-  });
-
   tableCreateDialogState.tableName.addEventListener("input", function () {
     clearTableCreateDialogError(tableCreateDialogState);
   });
@@ -3640,7 +3636,7 @@ function ensureRowDeleteDialog(manager) {
     <p class="row-delete-message" id="row-delete-message">Delete row <span class="row-delete-id"></span>?</p>
     <p class="row-delete-error" role="alert" hidden></p>
     <div class="modal-footer">
-      <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost row-delete-cancel">Cancel</button>
+      <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost row-delete-cancel" data-modal-cancel>Cancel</button>
       <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary row-delete-confirm">Delete row</button>
     </div>
   `,
@@ -3663,10 +3659,6 @@ function ensureRowDeleteDialog(manager) {
     isBusy: false,
   };
 
-  rowDeleteDialogState.cancelButton.addEventListener("click", function () {
-    modal.requestClose("cancel");
-  });
-
   dialog.addEventListener("keydown", function (ev) {
     if (
       ev.key === "Enter" &&
diff --git a/datasette/static/table.js b/datasette/static/table.js
index 8f3804b7..b588fe03 100644
--- a/datasette/static/table.js
+++ b/datasette/static/table.js
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ function ensureSetColumnTypeDialog() {
     <div class="set-column-type-options"></div>
     <div class="modal-footer">
       <span class="footer-info"></span>
-      <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost set-column-type-cancel">Cancel</button>
+      <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost set-column-type-cancel" data-modal-cancel>Cancel</button>
       <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary set-column-type-save">Save</button>
     </div>
   `,
@@ -223,10 +223,6 @@ function ensureSetColumnTypeDialog() {
     isBusy: false,
   };
 
-  setColumnTypeDialogState.cancelButton.addEventListener("click", function () {
-    modal.requestClose("cancel");
-  });
-
   modal.addEventListener("datasette-modal-close", function () {
     clearSetColumnTypeDialogError(setColumnTypeDialogState);
     setSetColumnTypeDialogBusy(setColumnTypeDialogState, false);
diff --git a/docs/generate-datasette-modal-example.sh b/docs/generate-datasette-modal-example.sh
index 4fedf8b3..f774c679 100755
--- a/docs/generate-datasette-modal-example.sh
+++ b/docs/generate-datasette-modal-example.sh
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ document.addEventListener("datasette_init", function (event) {
       <p style="padding: 16px 24px">Hello from a plugin!</p>
       <div class="modal-footer">
         <span class="footer-info"></span>
-        <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost my-plugin-cancel">Cancel</button>
+        <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost" data-modal-cancel>Cancel</button>
         <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary my-plugin-save">Save</button>
       </div>
     `,
@@ -81,9 +81,6 @@ document.addEventListener("datasette_init", function (event) {
   if (!modal) {
     return; // Browser does not support <dialog>
   }
-  modal.dialog
-    .querySelector(".my-plugin-cancel")
-    .addEventListener("click", () => modal.requestClose("cancel"));
   // Open it later, for example from a button click:
   // modal.showModal({trigger: button});
 });
diff --git a/docs/javascript_plugins.rst b/docs/javascript_plugins.rst
index ce285538..357985c8 100644
--- a/docs/javascript_plugins.rst
+++ b/docs/javascript_plugins.rst
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ The simplest way to create a modal from a plugin is ``datasetteManager.createMod
           <p style="padding: 16px 24px">Hello from a plugin!</p>
           <div class="modal-footer">
             <span class="footer-info"></span>
-            <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost my-plugin-cancel">Cancel</button>
+            <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost" data-modal-cancel>Cancel</button>
             <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary my-plugin-save">Save</button>
           </div>
         `,
@@ -98,13 +98,12 @@ The simplest way to create a modal from a plugin is ``datasetteManager.createMod
       if (!modal) {
         return; // Browser does not support <dialog>
       }
-      modal.dialog
-        .querySelector(".my-plugin-cancel")
-        .addEventListener("click", () => modal.requestClose("cancel"));
       // Open it later, for example from a button click:
       // modal.showModal({trigger: button});
     });
 
+The ``data-modal-cancel`` attribute on the Cancel button is a declarative shortcut: clicking any element inside the modal that carries this attribute calls ``modal.requestClose("cancel")``, so Cancel buttons need no JavaScript wiring. Like other dismissals it is blocked while the modal is ``busy`` and consults ``closeGuard``, both described below.
+
 Calling ``modal.showModal()`` then displays the dialog:
 
 .. Regenerate this screenshot with docs/generate-datasette-modal-example.sh
@@ -146,6 +145,7 @@ The element can also be used declaratively in a template - light DOM children be
     <datasette-modal dialog-id="my-dialog" modal-title="My dialog">
       <p>Dialog content</p>
       <div class="modal-footer">
+        <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost" data-modal-cancel>Cancel</button>
         <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">OK</button>
       </div>
     </datasette-modal>
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ Properties, methods and events
     Closes the modal unconditionally, skipping ``busy`` and ``closeGuard``. Pass ``{restoreFocus: false}`` to leave focus where it is, for example when the page is about to navigate.
 
 ``modal.requestClose(reason)``
-    Asks the modal to close on the user's behalf, respecting ``busy`` and ``closeGuard``. Returns true if the modal closed. Backdrop clicks and the ``Escape`` key call this internally with reasons ``"backdrop"`` and ``"escape"``. Wire Cancel buttons to this method.
+    Asks the modal to close on the user's behalf, respecting ``busy`` and ``closeGuard``. Returns true if the modal closed. Backdrop clicks and the ``Escape`` key call this internally with reasons ``"backdrop"`` and ``"escape"``, and clicking an element with a ``data-modal-cancel`` attribute calls it with ``"cancel"``. Cancel buttons can either carry that attribute or call this method directly.
 
 ``modal.busy`` - boolean
     While true, ``Escape``, backdrop clicks and ``requestClose()`` will not close the modal. Set this while an operation is in flight. A ``busy`` attribute is reflected on the element for CSS.
diff --git a/tests/test_playwright.py b/tests/test_playwright.py
index 4692e018..252003f3 100644
--- a/tests/test_playwright.py
+++ b/tests/test_playwright.py
@@ -975,6 +975,13 @@ def test_set_column_type_dialog(page, datasette_server):
     option_names = dialog.locator(".set-column-type-option-name").all_inner_texts()
     assert "asset" in option_names
 
-    # Escape closes the dialog via the shared datasette-modal component
+    # The declarative data-modal-cancel attribute closes the dialog
+    dialog.locator("[data-modal-cancel]").click()
+    dialog.wait_for(state="hidden")
+
+    # Escape also closes the dialog via the shared datasette-modal component
+    page.locator('th[data-column="title"] svg.dropdown-menu-icon').click()
+    page.get_by_role("link", name="Set custom type").click()
+    dialog.wait_for(state="visible")
     page.keyboard.press("Escape")
     dialog.wait_for(state="hidden")