diff --git a/src/components/labs/__tests__/lab-filter-rail.browser.test.tsx b/src/components/labs/__tests__/lab-filter-rail.browser.test.tsx
index 4def8a3ab..a9d934326 100644
--- a/src/components/labs/__tests__/lab-filter-rail.browser.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/labs/__tests__/lab-filter-rail.browser.test.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
-import { page } from "vitest/browser";
+import { page, userEvent } from "vitest/browser";
+import { useState } from "react";
 
 import { renderWithApp } from "../../../../tests/browser/render";
 import { LabFilterRail, type LabFilterRailProps } from "../lab-filter-rail";
+import { useLabListFilters } from "../use-lab-list-filters";
 
 function props(): LabFilterRailProps {
   return {
@@ -156,3 +158,58 @@ describe("<LabFilterRail> layout", () => {
     expect(Math.max(...centers) - Math.min(...centers)).toBeLessThan(2);
   });
 });
+
+/** The rail wired to the real filter hook, with a dialog to open over it. */
+function WiredRail() {
+  const lab = useLabListFilters();
+  const [dialog, setDialog] = useState(false);
+  return (
+    <>
+      <LabFilterRail
+        {...props()}
+        filters={lab.filters}
+        searchDraft={lab.searchDraft}
+        onSearchChange={lab.setSearchDraft}
+        searchInputRef={lab.searchInputRef}
+      />
+      <button type="button" onClick={() => setDialog(true)}>
+        Open dialog
+      </button>
+      {dialog ? (
+        <div role="dialog" aria-label="Sheet">
+          <button type="button" autoFocus>
+            Inside
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      ) : null}
+    </>
+  );
+}
+
+describe("<LabFilterRail> keyboard", () => {
+  it("focuses the search field on / and keeps focus there after clearing", async () => {
+    const { screen } = await renderWithApp(<WiredRail />);
+    const search = screen.getByRole("searchbox", { name: "Search biomarkers" });
+
+    (
+      screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Open dialog" }).element() as HTMLElement
+    ).focus();
+    await userEvent.keyboard("/");
+    await expect.element(search).toHaveFocus();
+    await expect.element(search).toHaveValue("");
+
+    await userEvent.keyboard("iron");
+    await screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Clear search" }).click();
+    await expect.element(search).toHaveValue("");
+    await expect.element(search).toHaveFocus();
+  });
+
+  it("leaves / alone while focus is inside an open dialog", async () => {
+    const { screen } = await renderWithApp(<WiredRail />);
+    await screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Open dialog" }).click();
+    const inside = screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Inside" });
+    await expect.element(inside).toHaveFocus();
+    await userEvent.keyboard("/");
+    await expect.element(inside).toHaveFocus();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/components/labs/lab-filter-rail.tsx b/src/components/labs/lab-filter-rail.tsx
index 29bff4c86..813455319 100644
--- a/src/components/labs/lab-filter-rail.tsx
+++ b/src/components/labs/lab-filter-rail.tsx
@@ -97,7 +97,11 @@ export function LabFilterRail({
         ) : (
           <button
             type="button"
-            onClick={() => onSearchChange("")}
+            onClick={() => {
+              onSearchChange("");
+              // The button goes away with the text; focus stays in the field.
+              searchInputRef.current?.focus();
+            }}
             aria-label={t("labs.filter.clearSearch")}
             className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground focus-visible:ring-ring/50 absolute top-1/2 right-0 inline-flex size-11 -translate-y-1/2 sm:size-10 items-center justify-center rounded-full outline-none focus-visible:ring-[3px]"
           >
diff --git a/src/components/labs/use-lab-list-filters.ts b/src/components/labs/use-lab-list-filters.ts
index 4de016c89..60e8cd675 100644
--- a/src/components/labs/use-lab-list-filters.ts
+++ b/src/components/labs/use-lab-list-filters.ts
@@ -53,10 +53,19 @@ export function useLabListFilters() {
     return () => clearTimeout(handle);
   }, [searchDraft, filters.q, applyFilters]);
 
-  // "/" focuses search input anywhere on the page
+  // "/" focuses the search field, unless the key is meant for something
+  // else: a field being typed in, or an open dialog, menu or list whose
+  // focus must not jump to the page behind it.
   useEffect(() => {
     const onKeyDown = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
-      if (event.key !== "/" || event.metaKey || event.ctrlKey || event.altKey) {
+      if (
+        event.key !== "/" ||
+        event.metaKey ||
+        event.ctrlKey ||
+        event.altKey ||
+        event.defaultPrevented ||
+        event.isComposing
+      ) {
         return;
       }
       const target = event.target as HTMLElement | null;
@@ -65,7 +74,10 @@ export function useLabListFilters() {
         (target.tagName === "INPUT" ||
           target.tagName === "TEXTAREA" ||
           target.tagName === "SELECT" ||
-          target.isContentEditable)
+          target.isContentEditable ||
+          target.closest(
+            '[role="dialog"], [role="alertdialog"], [role="menu"], [role="listbox"]',
+          ))
       ) {
         return;
       }