diff --git a/public/javascripts/application.js b/public/javascripts/application.js
index c888e7f6..707e088b 100644
--- a/public/javascripts/application.js
+++ b/public/javascripts/application.js
@@ -1096,7 +1096,8 @@ function enable_rich_interaction(){
             $(form).find('input[name=predecessor_input]').val('');
             $(form).find('input[name=predecessor_input]').focus();
             return false;
-        }
+        },
+        selectFirst: true
     });
 
     /* have to bind on keypress because of limitations of live() */