diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d929adfc8..0eed7a1d9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 * Provide `isLoading` prop for `<MetaSection>` components to reflect loading status. Refs STCOM-1467.
 * Expose the `dedupe` property for `<Callout>` to prevent duplicate callouts with the same message and type from being displayed. Refs STCOM-1469.
 * `<MultiSelection>` - add a new `filterProps` prop to control option filtering. Refs STCOM-1473.
+* `<PaneCloseLink>` - add a new `closeButtonRef` prop to provide a ref for the pane close icon button. Fixes STCOM-1461.
 
 ## [13.0.0](https://github.com/folio-org/stripes-components/tree/v13.0.0) (2025-02-24)
 [Full Changelog](https://github.com/folio-org/stripes-components/compare/v12.2.0...v13.0.0)
diff --git a/lib/PaneCloseLink/PaneCloseLink.js b/lib/PaneCloseLink/PaneCloseLink.js
index d7921aac5..02848ee1e 100644
--- a/lib/PaneCloseLink/PaneCloseLink.js
+++ b/lib/PaneCloseLink/PaneCloseLink.js
@@ -1,22 +1,37 @@
 import React from 'react';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import classnames from 'classnames';
+
 import PaneHeaderIconButton from '../PaneHeaderIconButton';
+
 import css from './PaneCloseLink.css';
 import paneHeaderCss from '../PaneHeader/PaneHeader.css';
 
-export default function PaneCloseLink(props) {
+const PaneCloseLink = (props) => {
+  const {
+    closeButtonRef,
+    ...rest
+  } = props;
+
   return (
     <div className={classnames(css.paneCloseLink, paneHeaderCss.paneHeaderIconButton)}>
       <PaneHeaderIconButton
         className={css.paneCloseLinkArrow}
         icon="arrow-left"
-        {...props}
+        {...rest}
       />
       <PaneHeaderIconButton
         className={css.paneCloseLinkX}
         icon="times"
-        {...props}
+        ref={closeButtonRef}
+        {...rest}
       />
     </div>
   );
 }
+
+PaneCloseLink.propTypes = {
+  closeButtonRef: PropTypes.object,
+};
+
+export default PaneCloseLink;