diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index e4cad9d00..15832aaab 100644
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@
 
 		<div id="floatingTitle" style="visibility : hidden"></div>
 
-		<div id="headlines-frame" dojoType="dijit.layout.ContentPane"
+		<div id="headlines-frame" dojoType="dijit.layout.ContentPane" tabindex="0"
 				onscroll="headlines_scroll_handler(this)" region="center">
 			<div id="headlinesInnerContainer">
 				<div class="whiteBox"><?php echo __('Loading, please wait...') ?></div>
diff --git a/js/FeedTree.js b/js/FeedTree.js
index 849700992..63fa308f0 100644
--- a/js/FeedTree.js
+++ b/js/FeedTree.js
@@ -357,6 +357,11 @@ require(["dojo/_base/declare", "dojo/dom-construct", "dijit/Tree", "dijit/Menu"]
 				if (!is_cat) this._expandNode(treeNode);
 				this.set("selectedNodes", [treeNode]);
 				this.focusNode(treeNode);
+
+				// focus headlines to route key events there
+				setTimeout(function() {
+					$("headlines-frame").focus();
+				}, 0);
 			}
 		},
 		setFeedIcon: function(feed, is_cat, src) {