diff --git a/src/js/select2/core.js b/src/js/select2/core.js
index ee687d6d..628087ae 100644
--- a/src/js/select2/core.js
+++ b/src/js/select2/core.js
@@ -214,12 +214,16 @@ define([
 
   Select2.prototype._registerSelectionEvents = function () {
     var self = this;
-    var nonRelayEvents = ['toggle'];
+    var nonRelayEvents = ['toggle', 'focus'];
 
     this.selection.on('toggle', function () {
       self.toggleDropdown();
     });
 
+    this.selection.on('focus', function (params) {
+      self.focus(params);
+    });
+
     this.selection.on('*', function (name, params) {
       if ($.inArray(name, nonRelayEvents) !== -1) {
         return;
@@ -264,10 +268,6 @@ define([
       self.$container.addClass('select2-container--disabled');
     });
 
-    this.on('focus', function () {
-      self.$container.addClass('select2-container--focus');
-    });
-
     this.on('blur', function () {
       self.$container.removeClass('select2-container--focus');
     });
@@ -411,6 +411,20 @@ define([
     return this.$container.hasClass('select2-container--open');
   };
 
+  Select2.prototype.hasFocus = function () {
+    return this.$container.hasClass('select2-container--focus');
+  };
+
+  Select2.prototype.focus = function (data) {
+    // No need to re-trigger focus events if we are already focused
+    if (this.hasFocus()) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.$container.addClass('select2-container--focus');
+    this.trigger('focus');
+  };
+
   Select2.prototype.enable = function (args) {
     if (this.options.get('debug') && window.console && console.warn) {
       console.warn(
diff --git a/src/js/select2/selection/base.js b/src/js/select2/selection/base.js
index 70cac9c5..a63658af 100644
--- a/src/js/select2/selection/base.js
+++ b/src/js/select2/selection/base.js
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ define([
     });
 
     this.$selection.on('blur', function (evt) {
-      self.trigger('blur', evt);
+      self._handleBlur(evt);
     });
 
     this.$selection.on('keydown', function (evt) {
@@ -95,6 +95,24 @@ define([
     });
   };
 
+  BaseSelection.prototype._handleBlur = function (evt) {
+    var self = this;
+
+    // This needs to be delayed as the actve element is the body when the tab
+    // key is pressed, possibly along with others.
+    window.setTimeout(function () {
+      // Don't trigger `blur` if the focus is still in the selection
+      if (
+        (document.activeElement == self.$selection[0]) ||
+        ($.contains(self.$selection[0], document.activeElement))
+      ) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      self.trigger('blur', evt);
+    }, 1);
+  };
+
   BaseSelection.prototype._attachCloseHandler = function (container) {
     var self = this;
 
diff --git a/src/js/select2/selection/search.js b/src/js/select2/selection/search.js
index 7dbcf939..be306552 100644
--- a/src/js/select2/selection/search.js
+++ b/src/js/select2/selection/search.js
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ define([
 
     var $rendered = decorated.call(this);
 
+    this._transferTabIndex();
+
     return $rendered;
   };
 
@@ -30,36 +32,34 @@ define([
     decorated.call(this, container, $container);
 
     container.on('open', function () {
-      self.$search.attr('tabindex', 0);
-
-      self.$search.focus();
+      self.$search.trigger('focus');
     });
 
     container.on('close', function () {
-      self.$search.attr('tabindex', -1);
-
       self.$search.val('');
-      self.$search.focus();
+      self.$search.trigger('focus');
     });
 
     container.on('enable', function () {
       self.$search.prop('disabled', false);
+
+      self._transferTabIndex();
     });
 
     container.on('disable', function () {
       self.$search.prop('disabled', true);
     });
 
+    container.on('focus', function (evt) {
+      self.$search.trigger('focus');
+    });
+
     this.$selection.on('focusin', '.select2-search--inline', function (evt) {
       self.trigger('focus', evt);
     });
 
-    this.$selection.on('focus', function (evt) {
-      self.$search.trigger('focus');
-    });
-
     this.$selection.on('focusout', '.select2-search--inline', function (evt) {
-      self.trigger('blur', evt);
+      self._handleBlur(evt);
     });
 
     this.$selection.on('keydown', '.select2-search--inline', function (evt) {
@@ -95,10 +95,34 @@ define([
 
     this.$selection.on('keyup.search input', '.select2-search--inline',
         function (evt) {
+      var key = evt.which;
+
+      // We can freely ignore events from modifier keys
+      if (key == KEYS.SHIFT || key == KEYS.CTRL || key == KEYS.ALT) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      // Tabbing will be handled during the `keydown` phase
+      if (key == KEYS.TAB) {
+        return;
+      }
+
       self.handleSearch(evt);
     });
   };
 
+  /**
+   * This method will transfer the tabindex attribute from the rendered
+   * selection to the search box. This allows for the search box to be used as
+   * the primary focus instead of the selection container.
+   *
+   * @private
+   */
+  Search.prototype._transferTabIndex = function (decorated) {
+    this.$search.attr('tabindex', this.$selection.attr('tabindex'));
+    this.$selection.attr('tabindex', '-1');
+  };
+
   Search.prototype.createPlaceholder = function (decorated, placeholder) {
     this.$search.attr('placeholder', placeholder.text);
   };