diff --git a/kmcomposewin.cpp b/kmcomposewin.cpp
index fdb2b2240..bc5b434c5 100644
--- a/kmcomposewin.cpp
+++ b/kmcomposewin.cpp
@@ -4635,9 +4635,8 @@ void KMComposeWin::slotEditKeys()
 void KMComposeWin::setReplyFocus( bool hasMessage )
 {
   mEditor->setFocus();
-  if ( hasMessage ) {
-    mEditor->setCursorPosition( 1, 0 );
-  }
+  if ( hasMessage )
+    mEditor->setCursorPositionFromStart( (unsigned int) mMsg->getCursorPos() );
 }
 
 void KMComposeWin::setFocusToSubject()
diff --git a/kmedit.cpp b/kmedit.cpp
index 7599e9eec..8edf8edb5 100644
--- a/kmedit.cpp
+++ b/kmedit.cpp
@@ -759,4 +759,12 @@ void KMEdit::slotSpellDone()
   }
 }
 
+void KMEdit::setCursorPositionFromStart( unsigned int pos ) {
+  unsigned int l = 0;
+  unsigned int c = 0;
+  posToRowCol( pos, l, c );
+  setCursorPosition( l, c );
+  ensureCursorVisible();
+}
+
 #include "kmedit.moc"
diff --git a/kmedit.h b/kmedit.h
index 44f4c47d3..e58b0afc9 100644
--- a/kmedit.h
+++ b/kmedit.h
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ public:
 
   unsigned int lineBreakColumn() const;
 
+  /** set cursor to absolute position pos */
+  void setCursorPositionFromStart(unsigned int pos);
+
+
 signals:
   void spellcheck_done( int result );
   void attachPNGImageData( const QByteArray &image );