diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 34a3fd672..7940e5a53 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 CHANGELOG Roundcube Webmail
 ===========================
 
+- Fix keyboard events on list widgets in Internet Explorer (#1489025)
+
+RELEASE 0.9-rc2
+---------------
 - Fix security issue in save-pref command
 - Remove sig_above configuration option, use reply_mode only (#1489001)
 - Refresh current folder in opener window after draft save or message sent (#1488997)
diff --git a/program/js/app.js b/program/js/app.js
index 8e5bc540a..5d6d2c1de 100644
--- a/program/js/app.js
+++ b/program/js/app.js
@@ -178,11 +178,6 @@ function rcube_webmail()
       parent.rcmail.env.frame_lock = null;
     }
 
-    // Makes that reference to document.activeElement do not throw
-    // "unspecified error" in IE9 (#1489008)
-    if (this.env.framed && bw.ie)
-      document.documentElement.focus();
-
     // enable general commands
     this.enable_command('close', 'logout', 'mail', 'addressbook', 'settings', 'save-pref', 'compose', 'undo', 'about', 'switch-task', true);
 
diff --git a/program/js/common.js b/program/js/common.js
index 1075225b4..f7c0a7536 100644
--- a/program/js/common.js
+++ b/program/js/common.js
@@ -717,7 +717,7 @@ if (bw.ie) {
 // jQuery plugin to emulate HTML5 placeholder attributes on input elements
 jQuery.fn.placeholder = function(text) {
   return this.each(function() {
-    var elem = $(this);
+    var active = false, elem = $(this);
     this.title = text;
 
     // Try HTML5 placeholder attribute first
@@ -742,8 +742,9 @@ jQuery.fn.placeholder = function(text) {
         elem[(active ? 'addClass' : 'removeClass')]('placeholder').attr('spellcheck', active);
       });
 
-      // Do not blur currently focused element
-      if (this != document.activeElement)
+      // Do not blur currently focused element (catch exception: #1489008)
+      try { active = this == document.activeElement; } catch(e) {}
+      if (!active)
         elem.blur();
     }
   });
diff --git a/program/js/list.js b/program/js/list.js
index 660b74d85..6b8bb39c7 100644
--- a/program/js/list.js
+++ b/program/js/list.js
@@ -687,6 +687,7 @@ select_row: function(id, mod_key, with_mouse)
     this.shift_start = null;
 
   this.last_selected = id;
+  this.list.focus();
 },