diff --git a/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts b/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts
index fda09938bbd..912d41ecaf9 100644
--- a/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts
+++ b/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ import {isPresent} from '../../util/util';
       '<input #searchbarInput [(ngModel)]="_value" [attr.placeholder]="placeholder" (input)="inputChanged($event)" (blur)="inputBlurred($event)" (focus)="inputFocused($event)" class="searchbar-input">' +
       '<button clear class="searchbar-clear-icon" (click)="clearInput($event)" (mousedown)="clearInput($event)"></button>' +
     '</div>' +
-    '<button #cancelButton clear (click)="cancelSearchbar($event)" (mousedown)="cancelSearchbar($event)" [hidden]="hideCancelButton" class="searchbar-ios-cancel">{{cancelButtonText}}</button>',
+    '<button #cancelButton [tabindex]="_isActive ? 1 : -1" clear (click)="cancelSearchbar($event)" (mousedown)="cancelSearchbar($event)" [hidden]="hideCancelButton" class="searchbar-ios-cancel">{{cancelButtonText}}</button>',
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None
 })
 export class Searchbar {