diff --git a/src/components/structures/RoomSearch.tsx b/src/components/structures/RoomSearch.tsx
index 15f3bd5b54..861549bef4 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/RoomSearch.tsx
+++ b/src/components/structures/RoomSearch.tsx
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ export default class RoomSearch extends React.PureComponent<IProps, IState> {
 
     private openSearch = () => {
         defaultDispatcher.dispatch({action: "show_left_panel"});
+        defaultDispatcher.dispatch({action: "focus_room_filter"})
     };
 
     private onChange = () => {