diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2bba320f4d7..9fd6dbedb0b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 **Bug fixes**
 
+- Fixed an accessibility issue where `EuiComboBoxPill` close button had a nested interactive element ([#5560](https://github.com/elastic/eui/pull/5560))
 - Fixed EuiDataGrid height issue when in full-screen mode and with scrolling content ([#5557](https://github.com/elastic/eui/pull/5557))
 - Fixed a focus bug in `EuiDataGrid` when clicking another cell header with an already-open cell header popover ([#5556](https://github.com/elastic/eui/pull/5556))
 
diff --git a/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_input/combo_box_pill.tsx b/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_input/combo_box_pill.tsx
index d6c23d63a30..17c525d4abd 100644
--- a/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_input/combo_box_pill.tsx
+++ b/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_input/combo_box_pill.tsx
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ export class EuiComboBoxPill<T> extends Component<EuiComboBoxPillProps<T>> {
           {(removeSelection: string) => (
             <EuiBadge
               className={classes}
-              closeButtonProps={{ tabIndex: -1 }}
               color={color}
               iconOnClick={this.onCloseButtonClick}
               iconOnClickAriaLabel={removeSelection}