diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/virtual_keyboard_window.cc b/gtk2_ardour/virtual_keyboard_window.cc
index dc103c52de..16e13e89a6 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/virtual_keyboard_window.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/virtual_keyboard_window.cc
@@ -379,8 +379,6 @@ VirtualKeyboardWindow::on_unmap ()
 bool
 VirtualKeyboardWindow::on_key_press_event (GdkEventKey* ev)
 {
-	_piano.grab_focus ();
-
 	/* try propagate unmodified events first */
 	if ((ev->state & 0xf) == 0) {
 		if (gtk_window_propagate_key_event (gobj(), ev)) {
@@ -388,6 +386,8 @@ VirtualKeyboardWindow::on_key_press_event (GdkEventKey* ev)
 		}
 	}
 
+	_piano.grab_focus ();
+
 	/* handle up/down */
 	if (ev->type == GDK_KEY_PRESS) {
 		if (ev->keyval == GDK_KEY_Left) {