diff --git a/folderrequester.cpp b/folderrequester.cpp
index d6f180a33..73c785213 100644
--- a/folderrequester.cpp
+++ b/folderrequester.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ FolderRequester::FolderRequester( QWidget *parent, KMFolderTree *tree )
 
   setSizePolicy( QSizePolicy( QSizePolicy::MinimumExpanding,
         QSizePolicy::Fixed ) );
+  setFocusPolicy( QWidget::StrongFocus );
 }
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -100,6 +101,15 @@ void FolderRequester::setFolder( const QString &idString )
   setFolder( kmkernel->findFolderById( idString ) );
 }
 
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void FolderRequester::keyPressEvent( QKeyEvent * e )
+{
+  if ( e->key() == Qt::Key_Space )
+    slotOpenDialog();
+  else
+    e->ignore();
+}
+
 } // namespace KMail
 
 #include "folderrequester.moc"
diff --git a/folderrequester.h b/folderrequester.h
index e39a8b7fc..40a98263c 100644
--- a/folderrequester.h
+++ b/folderrequester.h
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ namespace KMail {
       /** Emitted when the folder changed */
       void folderChanged( KMFolder* );
 
+    protected:
+      /** Capture space key to open the dialog */
+      virtual void keyPressEvent( QKeyEvent * e );
+
     protected:
       KLineEdit* edit;
       KMFolder* mFolder;