diff --git a/ui/src/e2e/chat-flow.e2e.test.ts b/ui/src/e2e/chat-flow.e2e.test.ts
index cb873c56725..d6db0841122 100644
--- a/ui/src/e2e/chat-flow.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/e2e/chat-flow.e2e.test.ts
@@ -617,6 +617,53 @@ describeControlUiE2e("Control UI mocked Gateway E2E", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it("routes page typing to the active composer without stealing text input focus", async () => {
+    const context = await newBrowserContext({
+      locale: "en-US",
+      serviceWorkers: "block",
+      viewport: { height: 900, width: 1280 },
+    });
+    const page = await context.newPage();
+    await installMockGateway(page, {
+      historyMessages: [
+        {
+          content: [{ text: "Type whenever you are ready.", type: "text" }],
+          role: "assistant",
+          timestamp: Date.now(),
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    try {
+      await page.goto(`${server.baseUrl}chat`);
+      await page.getByText("Type whenever you are ready.").click();
+
+      const composer = page.locator(".agent-chat__composer-combobox textarea");
+      await expect
+        .poll(() => composer.evaluate((element) => element === document.activeElement))
+        .toBe(false);
+
+      await page.keyboard.type("first character preserved");
+      expect(await composer.inputValue()).toBe("first character preserved");
+      await expect
+        .poll(() => composer.evaluate((element) => element === document.activeElement))
+        .toBe(true);
+
+      await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Open command palette" }).click();
+      const paletteInput = page.locator(".cmd-palette__input");
+      await paletteInput.waitFor({ state: "visible", timeout: 10_000 });
+      await expect
+        .poll(() => paletteInput.evaluate((element) => element === document.activeElement))
+        .toBe(true);
+      await page.keyboard.type("session search");
+
+      expect(await paletteInput.inputValue()).toBe("session search");
+      expect(await composer.inputValue()).toBe("first character preserved");
+    } finally {
+      await closeBrowserContext(context);
+    }
+  });
+
   it("keeps stale context visible as approximate without warning or compaction", async () => {
     const context = await newBrowserContext({
       locale: "en-US",
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-pane.ts b/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-pane.ts
index 7be93784ce7..d861b4fb1c4 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-pane.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-pane.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,12 @@ type PaneSessionChangeOptions = { replace?: boolean };
 
 const CHAT_OPEN_DETAILS_SELECTOR =
   ".chat-controls__inline-select[open], .context-usage details[open], .agent-chat__talk-select[open], .agent-chat__attach-menu[open]";
+const CHAT_COMPOSER_TEXTAREA_SELECTOR = ".agent-chat__composer-combobox > textarea";
+const CHAT_TEXT_ENTRY_SELECTOR =
+  "input, textarea, select, [contenteditable]:not([contenteditable='false']), [role='combobox'], [role='listbox'], [role='textbox']";
+const CHAT_SPACE_ACTIVATION_SELECTOR =
+  "a[href], button, summary, [role='button'], [role='checkbox'], [role='link'], [role='radio'], [role='switch']";
+const CHAT_MODAL_SELECTOR = "dialog[open], [aria-modal='true']";
 
 const NEW_SESSION_ACTIVE_RUN_MESSAGE =
   "Start a new session after the active run or queued messages finish.";
@@ -96,6 +102,12 @@ const NEW_SESSION_LIST_LOADING_MESSAGE =
 const NEW_SESSION_CREATE_FAILED_MESSAGE =
   "New Chat could not create a new session. Try again in a moment.";
 
+function keyboardEventPathMatches(event: KeyboardEvent, selector: string): boolean {
+  return event
+    .composedPath()
+    .some((target) => target instanceof Element && target.matches(selector));
+}
+
 class ChatPane extends LitElement {
   @consume({ context: applicationContext, subscribe: false })
   private context!: ChatPageContext;
@@ -341,6 +353,26 @@ class ChatPane extends LitElement {
   }
 
   private readonly handleDocumentKeydown = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
+    if (
+      this.active &&
+      !event.defaultPrevented &&
+      !event.isComposing &&
+      !event.metaKey &&
+      !event.ctrlKey &&
+      !event.altKey &&
+      event.key.length === 1 &&
+      !keyboardEventPathMatches(event, CHAT_TEXT_ENTRY_SELECTOR) &&
+      !(event.key === " " && keyboardEventPathMatches(event, CHAT_SPACE_ACTIVATION_SELECTOR)) &&
+      !document.querySelector(CHAT_MODAL_SELECTOR)
+    ) {
+      const composer = this.querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>(CHAT_COMPOSER_TEXTAREA_SELECTOR);
+      if (composer && !composer.disabled && !composer.readOnly) {
+        // Focus during keydown capture so the browser delivers beforeinput/input,
+        // including the first character, through the composer's normal pipeline.
+        composer.focus({ preventScroll: true });
+      }
+    }
+
     if (event.defaultPrevented || event.key !== "Escape") {
       return;
     }