diff --git a/src/components/structures/LeftPanel.js b/src/components/structures/LeftPanel.js
index 7088347ff40..21438c597cd 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/LeftPanel.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/LeftPanel.js
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ const LeftPanel = React.createClass({
         );
 
         const searchBox = (<SearchBox
+            enableRoomSearchFocus={true}
             placeholder={ _t('Filter room names') }
             onSearch={ this.onSearch }
             onCleared={ this.onSearchCleared }
diff --git a/src/components/structures/SearchBox.js b/src/components/structures/SearchBox.js
index 3f9d954f9f2..a66cfb17b62 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/SearchBox.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/SearchBox.js
@@ -30,6 +30,17 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         onCleared: PropTypes.func,
         className: PropTypes.string,
         placeholder: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
+
+        // If true, the search box will focus and clear itself
+        // on room search focus action (it would be nicer to take
+        // this functionality out, but not obvious how that would work)
+        enableRoomSearchFocus: PropTypes.bool,
+    },
+
+    getDefaultProps: function() {
+        return {
+            enableRoomSearchFocus: false,
+        };
     },
 
     getInitialState: function() {
@@ -47,6 +58,8 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     },
 
     onAction: function(payload) {
+        if (!this.props.enableRoomSearchFocus) return;
+
         switch (payload.action) {
             case 'view_room':
                 if (this.refs.search && payload.clear_search) {