diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/SearchInput.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/SearchInput.svelte
index 2708d12d..174fd5e2 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/SearchInput.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/SearchInput.svelte
@@ -17,11 +17,17 @@
   function navigate(next: string) {
     const onSearchPage = page.url.pathname.startsWith('/search');
     const trimmed = next.trim();
+    // keepFocus: SvelteKit blurs the active element on navigation by default.
+    // For a typeahead-style URL update we want the user to keep typing
+    // without re-clicking the input every 250 ms.
     if (trimmed === '') {
-      if (onSearchPage) goto('/search', { replaceState: true });
+      if (onSearchPage) goto('/search', { replaceState: true, keepFocus: true });
       return;
     }
-    goto(`/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(trimmed)}`, { replaceState: onSearchPage });
+    goto(`/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(trimmed)}`, {
+      replaceState: onSearchPage,
+      keepFocus: true,
+    });
   }
 
   function onInput() {
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/SearchInput.test.ts b/web/src/lib/components/SearchInput.test.ts
index 84517669..ca1f97bb 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/SearchInput.test.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/SearchInput.test.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ describe('SearchInput', () => {
     expect(goto).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(250);
     expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-    expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search?q=h', { replaceState: false });
+    expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search?q=h', { replaceState: false, keepFocus: true });
   });
 
   test('rapid keystrokes debounce to a single goto', async () => {
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ describe('SearchInput', () => {
     await fireEvent.input(input, { target: { value: 'hel' } });
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(250);
     expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-    expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search?q=hel', { replaceState: false });
+    expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search?q=hel', { replaceState: false, keepFocus: true });
   });
 
   test('typing while on /search uses replaceState=true', async () => {
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ describe('SearchInput', () => {
     const input = screen.getByRole('searchbox') as HTMLInputElement;
     await fireEvent.input(input, { target: { value: 'he' } });
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(250);
-    expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search?q=he', { replaceState: true });
+    expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search?q=he', { replaceState: true, keepFocus: true });
   });
 
   test('clearing input on /search calls goto("/search") (drops ?q=)', async () => {
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ describe('SearchInput', () => {
     const input = screen.getByRole('searchbox') as HTMLInputElement;
     await fireEvent.input(input, { target: { value: '' } });
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(250);
-    expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search', { replaceState: true });
+    expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search', { replaceState: true, keepFocus: true });
   });
 
   test('Escape clears the input value', async () => {
@@ -89,6 +89,6 @@ describe('SearchInput', () => {
     const input = screen.getByRole('searchbox') as HTMLInputElement;
     await fireEvent.input(input, { target: { value: 'a b&c' } });
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(250);
-    expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search?q=a%20b%26c', { replaceState: false });
+    expect(goto).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search?q=a%20b%26c', { replaceState: false, keepFocus: true });
   });
 });