diff --git a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatConversationPanel.java b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatConversationPanel.java
index 4dd261739..716616408 100644
--- a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatConversationPanel.java
+++ b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatConversationPanel.java
@@ -237,7 +237,6 @@ public ChatConversationPanel(ChatConversationContainer chatContainer)
         this.chatTextPane.setEditable(false);
         this.chatTextPane.setDocument(document);
         this.chatTextPane.setDragEnabled(true);
-        this.chatTextPane.setFocusable(false);
 
         chatTextPane.putClientProperty(
             JEditorPane.HONOR_DISPLAY_PROPERTIES, Boolean.TRUE);
diff --git a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatPanel.java b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatPanel.java
index a4f50c5c7..bf325c607 100644
--- a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatPanel.java
+++ b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatPanel.java
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ public class ChatPanel
                 ChatRoomLocalUserRoleListener,
                 ChatRoomMemberPropertyChangeListener,
                 FileTransferStatusListener,
+                KeyEventDispatcher,
                 Skinnable
 {
     /**
@@ -228,6 +229,9 @@ public ChatPanel(ChatContainer chatContainer)
         }
 
         this.addComponentListener(new TabSelectionComponentListener());
+
+        KeyboardFocusManager.getCurrentKeyboardFocusManager()
+            .addKeyEventDispatcher(this);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -445,6 +449,9 @@ public ChatSession getChatSession()
      */
     public void dispose()
     {
+        KeyboardFocusManager.getCurrentKeyboardFocusManager()
+            .removeKeyEventDispatcher(this);
+
         writeMessagePanel.dispose();
         chatSession.dispose();
         conversationPanel.dispose();
@@ -3115,4 +3122,27 @@ public void chatConferenceDescriptionSent(
         chatConferencesDialog.setCreatePanelEnabled(!available);
         chatConferencesDialog.setEndConferenceButtonEnabled(available);
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Dispatches key events and process those that were generated when
+     * conversationPanel ChatTextPane is focused and they were targeting the
+     * write message panel.
+     * @param e the <tt>KeyEvent</tt> to dispatch.
+     * @return <tt>true</tt> if the KeyboardFocusManager should take no
+     * further action with regard to the KeyEvent; <tt>false</tt>
+     * otherwise.
+     */
+    public boolean dispatchKeyEvent(KeyEvent e)
+    {
+        if(e.getSource() != conversationPanel.getChatTextPane()
+            || writeMessagePanel.getEditorPane().isFocusOwner())
+            return false;
+
+        writeMessagePanel.getEditorPane().requestFocusInWindow();
+
+        KeyboardFocusManager.getCurrentKeyboardFocusManager()
+            .redispatchEvent(writeMessagePanel.getEditorPane(), e);
+
+        return true;
+    }
 }