diff --git a/static/js/recent_topics.js b/static/js/recent_topics.js
index 848bbefd1a..c87d0d13ae 100644
--- a/static/js/recent_topics.js
+++ b/static/js/recent_topics.js
@@ -78,6 +78,12 @@ function revive_current_focus() {
     // After re-render, the current_focus_elem is no longer linked
     // to the focused element, this function attempts to revive the
     // link and focus to the element prior to the rerender.
+
+    // Don't change focus if user is trying to type anywhere.
+    if ($(".home-page-input").is(":focus")) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
     if (!current_focus_elem) {
         set_default_focus();
         return false;
diff --git a/templates/zerver/app/left_sidebar.html b/templates/zerver/app/left_sidebar.html
index f535ce50cb..ef55ff9ef0 100644
--- a/templates/zerver/app/left_sidebar.html
+++ b/templates/zerver/app/left_sidebar.html
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
                 <i id="streams_inline_cog" class='fa fa-cog' aria-hidden="true" data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="bottom" title="{{ _('Subscribe, add, or configure streams') }}"></i>
                 <i id="streams_filter_icon" class='fa fa-search' aria-hidden="true" data-toggle="tooltip" title="{{ _('Filter streams') }} (q)"></i>
                 <div class="input-append notdisplayed stream_search_section">
-                    <input class="stream-list-filter" type="text" autocomplete="off" placeholder="{{ _('Search streams') }}" />
+                    <input class="stream-list-filter home-page-input" type="text" autocomplete="off" placeholder="{{ _('Search streams') }}" />
                     <button type="button" class="btn clear_search_button" id="clear_search_stream_button">
                         <i class="fa fa-remove" aria-hidden="true"></i>
                     </button>
diff --git a/templates/zerver/app/navbar.html b/templates/zerver/app/navbar.html
index 9a64fed612..74a1bd58d4 100644
--- a/templates/zerver/app/navbar.html
+++ b/templates/zerver/app/navbar.html
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
                         <form id="searchbox_form" class="form-search navbar-search">
                             <div id="search_arrows" class="input-append">
                                 <span class="search_icon search_open" ><i class="fa fa-search" aria-hidden="true"></i></span>
-                                <input class="search-query input-block-level" id="search_query" type="text" placeholder="{{ _('Search') }}"
+                                <input class="search-query input-block-level home-page-input" id="search_query" type="text" placeholder="{{ _('Search') }}"
                                   autocomplete="off" aria-label="{{ _('Search') }}" title="{{ _('Search') }} (/)"/>
                                 <button class="btn search_button" type="button" id="search_exit" aria-label="{{ _('Exit search') }}"><i class="fa fa-remove" aria-hidden="true"></i></button>
                             </div>
diff --git a/templates/zerver/app/right_sidebar.html b/templates/zerver/app/right_sidebar.html
index 4fbcdd6e11..34f3e6b5bd 100644
--- a/templates/zerver/app/right_sidebar.html
+++ b/templates/zerver/app/right_sidebar.html
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
                 <i id="user_filter_icon" class='fa fa-search' aria-hidden="true" aria-label="{{ _('Filter users') }}" data-toggle="tooltip" title="{{ _('Filter users') }} (w)"></i>
             </div>
             <div class="input-append notdisplayed" id="user_search_section">
-                <input class="user-list-filter" type="text" autocomplete="off" placeholder="{{ _('Search people') }}" />
+                <input class="user-list-filter home-page-input" type="text" autocomplete="off" placeholder="{{ _('Search people') }}" />
                 <button type="button" class="btn clear_search_button" id="clear_search_people_button">
                     <i class="fa fa-remove" aria-hidden="true"></i>
                 </button>