diff --git a/src/components/structures/MatrixChat.js b/src/components/structures/MatrixChat.js
index 0de38ab226..a4b6b3ea6c 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/MatrixChat.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/MatrixChat.js
@@ -906,7 +906,9 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     },
 
     onFocus: function(ev) {
-        dis.dispatch({action: 'focus_composer'});
+        if (document.activeElement.textLength === undefined) {
+            dis.dispatch({action: 'focus_composer'});
+        }
     },
 
     showScreen: function(screen, params) {