diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js
index 4d57dc8db0..91eed1dc21 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js
@@ -318,11 +318,20 @@ run_test("test_recent_topics_launch", () => {
         return '<recent_topics table stub>';
     });
 
+    $("#recent_topics_search").selected = false;
+    $("#recent_topics_search").select = () => {
+        $("#recent_topics_search").selected = true;
+    };
+
     const rt = zrequire('recent_topics');
     rt.process_messages(messages);
 
+    assert.equal($("#recent_topics_search").selected, false);
+
     rt.launch();
-    assert.equal($("#recent_topics_search").is(":focus"), true);
+
+    // Test if search text is selected
+    assert.equal($("#recent_topics_search").selected, true);
     overlays.close_callback();
 
     // incorrect topic_key
diff --git a/static/js/recent_topics.js b/static/js/recent_topics.js
index 4b19c5c855..e1eb7fcb4e 100644
--- a/static/js/recent_topics.js
+++ b/static/js/recent_topics.js
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ exports.launch = function () {
         },
     });
     exports.complete_rerender();
-    $("#recent_topics_search").focus();
+    $("#recent_topics_search").select();
 };
 
 window.recent_topics = exports;