diff --git a/backend.php b/backend.php
index d29cc280b..dd38641ac 100644
--- a/backend.php
+++ b/backend.php
@@ -245,7 +245,9 @@
 		$feed_last_updated = "Updated: " . $line["last_updated"];
 
 		print "<tr><td class=\"search\" colspan=\"3\">
-			Search: <input id=\"searchbox\" onchange=\"javascript:search($feed);\">
+			Search: <input id=\"searchbox\"
+			onblur=\"javascript:enableHotkeys()\" onfocus=\"javascript:disableHotkeys()\"
+			onchange=\"javascript:search($feed);\">
 			<a class=\"button\" href=\"javascript:resetSearch()\">Reset</a>
 			</td></tr>"; 
 		print "<tr>
diff --git a/functions.js b/functions.js
index 0b05ae2e8..f33b3970d 100644
--- a/functions.js
+++ b/functions.js
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+var hotkeys_enabled = true;
+
+function disableHotkeys() {
+	hotkeys_enabled = false;
+}
+
+function enableHotkeys() {
+	hotkeys_enabled = true;
+}
+
 function notify_callback() {
 	var container = document.getElementById('notify');
 	if (xmlhttp.readyState == 4) {
@@ -56,8 +66,11 @@ function printLockingError() {
 var seq = "";
 
 function hotkey_handler(e) {
+
 	var keycode;
 
+	if (!hotkeys_enabled) return;
+
 	if (window.event) {
 		keycode = window.event.keyCode;
 	} else if (e) {