diff --git a/src/appfinder-window.c b/src/appfinder-window.c
index d4e0cf0..b9d22df 100644
--- a/src/appfinder-window.c
+++ b/src/appfinder-window.c
@@ -1381,28 +1381,40 @@ xfce_appfinder_window_drag_data_get (GtkWidget           *widget,
 
 
 
+static gboolean
+xfce_appfinder_key_pressed_should_trigger_search (guint keyval)
+{
+  return keyval >= GDK_KEY_A && keyval <= GDK_KEY_Z ||
+    keyval >= GDK_KEY_a && keyval <= GDK_KEY_z ||
+    keyval >= GDK_KEY_0 && keyval <= GDK_KEY_9 ||
+    keyval == GDK_KEY_BackSpace;
+}
+
+
+
 static gboolean
 xfce_appfinder_window_treeview_key_press_event (GtkWidget           *widget,
                                                 GdkEventKey         *event,
                                                 XfceAppfinderWindow *window)
 {
-  if (widget == window->view)
+  if (widget == window->view && event->keyval == GDK_KEY_Left)
     {
-      if (event->keyval == GDK_KEY_Left)
-        {
-          gtk_widget_grab_focus (window->sidepane);
-          return TRUE;
-        }
+      gtk_widget_grab_focus (window->sidepane);
+      return TRUE;
     }
-  else if (widget == window->sidepane)
+
+  if (widget == window->sidepane && event->keyval == GDK_KEY_Right)
     {
-      if (event->keyval == GDK_KEY_Right)
-        {
-          gtk_widget_grab_focus (window->view);
-          return TRUE;
-        }
+      gtk_widget_grab_focus (window->view);
+      return TRUE;
     }
 
+  if (xfce_appfinder_key_pressed_should_trigger_search (event->keyval))
+   {
+      gtk_widget_grab_focus (window->entry);
+      return TRUE;
+   }
+
   return FALSE;
 }