diff --git a/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.coffee b/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.coffee
index 2fc31da97a..8259004893 100644
--- a/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.coffee
+++ b/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.coffee
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ if Backbone?
       @timer = 0
       @$el.html(@template())
 
+      $(window).bind "load", @updateSidebar
       $(window).bind "scroll", @updateSidebar
       $(window).bind "resize", @updateSidebar
 
@@ -143,6 +144,18 @@ if Backbone?
             options.group_id = @group_id
         
     
+      lastThread = @collection.last()?.get('id')
+      if lastThread
+        # Pagination; focus the first thread after what was previously the last thread
+        @once("threads:rendered", ->
+          $(".post-list li:has(a[data-id='#{lastThread}']) + li a").focus()
+        )
+      else
+        # Totally refreshing the list (e.g. from clicking a sort button); focus the first thread
+        @once("threads:rendered", ->
+          $(".post-list a").first()?.focus()
+        )
+
       @collection.retrieveAnotherPage(@mode, options, {sort_key: @sortBy})
 
     renderThread: (thread) =>