diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
index 5854cf91a40..90fc689e9dd 100755
--- a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
@@ -1043,6 +1043,7 @@ class PyShell(OutputWindow):
 
         self.write("Python %s on %s\n%s\n%s" %
                    (sys.version, sys.platform, self.COPYRIGHT, nosub))
+        self.text.focus_force()
         self.showprompt()
         import tkinter
         tkinter._default_root = None # 03Jan04 KBK What's this?