diff --git a/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.cpp b/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.cpp
index f93b3c18c3..a8ac70c94d 100644
--- a/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.cpp
+++ b/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.cpp
@@ -429,8 +429,22 @@ void CVPCB_MAINFRAME::onTextFilterChanged( wxCommandEvent& event )
     // If the option FOOTPRINTS_LISTBOX::FILTERING_BY_TEXT_PATTERN is set, update the list
     // of available footprints which match the filter
 
-    // GTK loses the search-control's focus when updating the footprints list box, so we record
-    // the insertion point here and then restore it (and the focus) at the end.
+    if( !m_footprintListPendingUpdate )
+    {
+        Bind( wxEVT_IDLE, &CVPCB_MAINFRAME::updateFootprintListOnIdle, this );
+        m_footprintListPendingUpdate = true;
+    }
+}
+
+
+void CVPCB_MAINFRAME::updateFootprintListOnIdle( wxIdleEvent& aEvent )
+{
+    Unbind( wxEVT_IDLE, &CVPCB_MAINFRAME::updateFootprintListOnIdle, this );
+    m_footprintListPendingUpdate = false;
+
+    // GTK loses the search-control's focus on a Refresh event, so we record the focus and
+    // insertion point here and then restore them at the end.
+    bool searchCtrlHasFocus = m_tcFilterString->HasFocus();
     long pos = m_tcFilterString->GetInsertionPoint();
 
     COMPONENT* symbol = GetSelectedComponent();
@@ -448,8 +462,11 @@ void CVPCB_MAINFRAME::onTextFilterChanged( wxCommandEvent& event )
 
     DisplayStatus();
 
-    m_tcFilterString->SetFocus();
-    m_tcFilterString->SetInsertionPoint( pos );
+    if( searchCtrlHasFocus )
+    {
+        m_tcFilterString->SetFocus();
+        m_tcFilterString->SetInsertionPoint( pos );
+    }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.h b/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.h
index bd4c5144fa..3681207834 100644
--- a/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.h
+++ b/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.h
@@ -345,6 +345,8 @@ private:
 
     void updateFootprintViewerOnIdle( wxIdleEvent& aEvent );
 
+    void updateFootprintListOnIdle( wxIdleEvent& aEvent );
+
     /**
      * Read the .equ files and populate the list of equivalents.
      *
@@ -394,6 +396,7 @@ private:
     CVPCB_UNDO_REDO_LIST      m_undoList;
     CVPCB_UNDO_REDO_LIST      m_redoList;
 
+    bool                      m_footprintListPendingUpdate;
     bool                      m_viewerPendingUpdate;
 
 };