diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiHSpace.cpp b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiHSpace.cpp
index fc09f51dc3..57d4e982e0 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiHSpace.cpp
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiHSpace.cpp
@@ -104,6 +104,8 @@ void GuiHSpace::enableWidgets()
 	QString const selection = spacingCO->itemData(spacingCO->currentIndex()).toString();
 	bool const custom = selection == "custom";
 	valueLE->setEnabled(custom);
+	if (custom)
+		valueLE->setFocus();
 	valueL->setEnabled(custom);
 	unitCO->setEnabled(custom);
 	fillPatternCO->setEnabled(!math_mode_ && selection == "hfill");
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiVSpace.cpp b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiVSpace.cpp
index cbf9029fac..4f2a60e526 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiVSpace.cpp
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiVSpace.cpp
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ void GuiVSpace::enableCustom(int selection)
 {
 	bool const enable = selection == 5;
 	valueLE->setEnabled(enable);
+	if (enable)
+		valueLE->setFocus();
 	valueL->setEnabled(enable);
 	unitCO->setEnabled(enable);
 	changed();