diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
index 069a859ec3..4db5d226ef 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
@@ -686,6 +686,7 @@ class WebView(RestartingWebEngineView):
 
     def highlight_action(self, uuid, which):
         self.execute_when_ready('highlight_action', uuid, which)
+        self.setFocus(Qt.OtherFocusReason)
 
     def contextMenuEvent(self, ev):
         ev.accept()