diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
index f1340d08e3..c5f59b201b 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import React, { Component } from "react";
+import _ from 'lodash';
+import Mousetrap from 'mousetrap';
 import urbitOb from "urbit-ob";
 import { Sigil } from "../lib/icons/sigil";
 
@@ -14,13 +16,17 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
         groups: [],
         ships: []
       },
+      selected: null,
       inviteError: false
     };
     this.search = this.search.bind(this);
+
+    this.textarea = React.createRef();
   }
 
   componentDidMount() {
     this.peerUpdate();
+    this.bindShortcuts();
   }
 
   componentDidUpdate(prevProps) {
@@ -126,12 +132,91 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
         }
       }
 
+      let { selected } = this.state;
+      let groupIdx = groupMatches.findIndex(([path]) => path === selected);
+      let shipIdx = shipMatches.findIndex(ship => ship === selected);
+      let staleSelection = groupIdx < 0 && shipIdx < 0;
+      if(!selected || staleSelection) {
+        const newSelection = _.get(groupMatches, '[0][0]') || shipMatches[0];
+        this.setState({ selected: newSelection })
+      }
+
       this.setState({
         searchResults: { groups: groupMatches, ships: shipMatches }
       });
     }
   }
 
+  bindShortcuts() {
+    let mousetrap = Mousetrap(this.textarea.current);
+    mousetrap.bind(['down', 'tab'], e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.nextSelection();
+    });
+
+    mousetrap.bind(['up', 'shift+tab'], e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.nextSelection('backward');
+    });
+
+    mousetrap.bind('enter', e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      const { selected } = this.state;
+      if(selected.startsWith('/')) {
+        this.addGroup(selected)
+      } else {
+        this.addShip(selected);
+      }
+      this.setState({ selected: null })
+    })
+  }
+  nextSelection(backward = false) {
+    let { selected, searchResults } = this.state;
+    const { ships, groups } = searchResults;
+    if(!selected) {
+      return;
+    }
+    let groupIdx = groups.findIndex(([path]) => path === selected);
+    let shipIdx = ships.findIndex(ship => ship === selected);
+    if(groupIdx >= 0) {
+      backward ? groupIdx-- : groupIdx++;
+      let selected = _.get(groups,[groupIdx], '[0]');
+      if(groupIdx === groups.length) {
+        selected = ships.length === 0
+              ?  groups[0][0]
+              :  ships[0];
+
+      }
+      if(groupIdx < 0) {
+        selected = ships.length === 0
+              ?  groups[groups.length - 1][0]
+              :  ships[ships.length - 1];
+      }
+      this.setState({ selected });
+      return;
+    }
+    if(shipIdx >= 0) {
+      backward ? shipIdx-- : shipIdx++;
+      let selected = ships[shipIdx];
+      if(shipIdx === ships.length) {
+        selected = groups.length === 0
+              ?  ships[0]
+              :  groups[0][0];
+      }
+
+      if(shipIdx < 0) {
+        selected = groups.length === 0
+              ?  ships[ships.length - 1]
+              :  groups[groups.length - 1][0];
+      }
+
+      this.setState({ selected });
+    }
+
+  }
   deleteGroup() {
     let { ships } = this.props.invites;
     this.setState({
@@ -251,7 +336,8 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             className={
               "list white-d f8 pv2 ph3 pointer" +
               " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d " +
-              ((group[1]) ? "inter" : "mono")
+              ((group[1]) ? "inter" : "mono") +
+              ( group[0] === state.selected ? ' bg-gray1-d bg-gray4' : '')
             }
             onClick={() => this.addGroup(group[0])}>
             <span className="mix-blend-diff white">{(group[1]) ? group[1] : group[0]}</span>
@@ -270,7 +356,8 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             key={ship}
             className={
               "list mono white-d f8 pv1 ph3 pointer" +
-              " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d relative"
+              " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d relative" +
+              ( ship === state.selected ? ' bg-gray1-d bg-gray4' : '')
             }
             onClick={e => this.addShip(ship)}>
             <Sigil
@@ -364,9 +451,7 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
           }}
         />
         <textarea
-          ref={e => {
-            this.textarea = e;
-          }}
+          ref={this.textarea}
           className={
             "f7 ba b--gray3 b--gray2-d bg-gray0-d white-d pa3 w-100" +
             " db focus-b--black focus-b--white-d"
@@ -379,12 +464,6 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             resize: "none",
             paddingLeft: 36
           }}
-          onKeyPress={e => {
-            if (e.key === "Enter" || e.key === ",") {
-              e.preventDefault();
-              this.submitShipToAdd(this.state.searchValue);
-            }
-          }}
           onChange={this.search}
           value={state.searchValue}
         />
diff --git a/pkg/interface/groups/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js b/pkg/interface/groups/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
index 1dfed0d850..121749c30d 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/groups/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/groups/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import React, { Component } from "react";
+import _ from 'lodash';
+import Mousetrap from 'mousetrap';
 import urbitOb from "urbit-ob";
 import { Sigil } from "../lib/icons/sigil";
 
@@ -14,13 +16,17 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
         groups: [],
         ships: []
       },
+      selected: null,
       inviteError: false
     };
     this.search = this.search.bind(this);
+
+    this.textarea = React.createRef();
   }
 
   componentDidMount() {
     this.peerUpdate();
+    this.bindShortcuts();
   }
 
   componentDidUpdate(prevProps) {
@@ -127,12 +133,91 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
         }
       }
 
+      let { selected } = this.state;
+      let groupIdx = groupMatches.findIndex(([path]) => path === selected);
+      let shipIdx = shipMatches.findIndex(ship => ship === selected);
+      let staleSelection = groupIdx < 0 && shipIdx < 0;
+      if(!selected || staleSelection) {
+        const newSelection = _.get(groupMatches, '[0][0]') || shipMatches[0];
+        this.setState({ selected: newSelection })
+      }
+
       this.setState({
         searchResults: { groups: groupMatches, ships: shipMatches }
       });
     }
   }
 
+  bindShortcuts() {
+    let mousetrap = Mousetrap(this.textarea.current);
+    mousetrap.bind(['down', 'tab'], e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.nextSelection();
+    });
+
+    mousetrap.bind(['up', 'shift+tab'], e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.nextSelection('backward');
+    });
+
+    mousetrap.bind('enter', e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      const { selected } = this.state;
+      if(selected.startsWith('/')) {
+        this.addGroup(selected)
+      } else {
+        this.addShip(selected);
+      }
+      this.setState({ selected: null })
+    })
+  }
+  nextSelection(backward = false) {
+    let { selected, searchResults } = this.state;
+    const { ships, groups } = searchResults;
+    if(!selected) {
+      return;
+    }
+    let groupIdx = groups.findIndex(([path]) => path === selected);
+    let shipIdx = ships.findIndex(ship => ship === selected);
+    if(groupIdx >= 0) {
+      backward ? groupIdx-- : groupIdx++;
+      let selected = _.get(groups,[groupIdx], '[0]');
+      if(groupIdx === groups.length) {
+        selected = ships.length === 0
+              ?  groups[0][0]
+              :  ships[0];
+
+      }
+      if(groupIdx < 0) {
+        selected = ships.length === 0
+              ?  groups[groups.length - 1][0]
+              :  ships[ships.length - 1];
+      }
+      this.setState({ selected });
+      return;
+    }
+    if(shipIdx >= 0) {
+      backward ? shipIdx-- : shipIdx++;
+      let selected = ships[shipIdx];
+      if(shipIdx === ships.length) {
+        selected = groups.length === 0
+              ?  ships[0]
+              :  groups[0][0];
+      }
+
+      if(shipIdx < 0) {
+        selected = groups.length === 0
+              ?  ships[ships.length - 1]
+              :  groups[groups.length - 1][0];
+      }
+
+      this.setState({ selected });
+    }
+
+  }
   deleteGroup() {
     let { ships } = this.props.invites;
     this.setState({
@@ -252,7 +337,8 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             className={
               "list white-d f8 pv2 ph3 pointer" +
               " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d " +
-              (group[1] ? "inter" : "mono")
+              (group[1] ? "inter" : "mono") +
+              ( group[0] === state.selected ? ' bg-gray1-d bg-gray4' : '')
             }
             onClick={() => this.addGroup(group[0])}>
             <span className="mix-blend-diff white">
@@ -276,7 +362,8 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             key={ship}
             className={
               "list mono white-d f8 pv1 ph3 pointer" +
-              " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d relative"
+              " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d relative" +
+              ( ship === state.selected ? ' bg-gray1-d bg-gray4' : '')
             }
             onClick={e => this.addShip(ship)}>
             <Sigil
@@ -374,9 +461,7 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
           }}
         />
         <textarea
-          ref={e => {
-            this.textarea = e;
-          }}
+          ref={this.textarea}
           className={
             "f7 ba b--gray3 b--gray2-d bg-gray0-d white-d pa3 w-100" +
             " db focus-b--black focus-b--white-d"
@@ -389,12 +474,6 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             resize: "none",
             paddingLeft: 36
           }}
-          onKeyPress={e => {
-            if (e.key === "Enter" || e.key === ",") {
-              e.preventDefault();
-              this.submitShipToAdd(this.state.searchValue);
-            }
-          }}
           onChange={this.search}
           value={state.searchValue}
         />
diff --git a/pkg/interface/link/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js b/pkg/interface/link/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
index 257a5fe2bf..e102042545 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/link/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/link/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import React, { Component } from "react";
+import _ from 'lodash';
+import Mousetrap from 'mousetrap';
 import urbitOb from "urbit-ob";
 import { Sigil } from "../lib/icons/sigil";
 
@@ -14,13 +16,17 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
         groups: [],
         ships: []
       },
+      selected: null,
       inviteError: false
     };
     this.search = this.search.bind(this);
+
+    this.textarea = React.createRef();
   }
 
   componentDidMount() {
     this.peerUpdate();
+    this.bindShortcuts();
   }
 
   componentDidUpdate(prevProps) {
@@ -127,12 +133,91 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
         }
       }
 
+      let { selected } = this.state;
+      let groupIdx = groupMatches.findIndex(([path]) => path === selected);
+      let shipIdx = shipMatches.findIndex(ship => ship === selected);
+      let staleSelection = groupIdx < 0 && shipIdx < 0;
+      if(!selected || staleSelection) {
+        const newSelection = _.get(groupMatches, '[0][0]') || shipMatches[0];
+        this.setState({ selected: newSelection })
+      }
+
       this.setState({
         searchResults: { groups: groupMatches, ships: shipMatches }
       });
     }
   }
 
+  bindShortcuts() {
+    let mousetrap = Mousetrap(this.textarea.current);
+    mousetrap.bind(['down', 'tab'], e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.nextSelection();
+    });
+
+    mousetrap.bind(['up', 'shift+tab'], e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.nextSelection('backward');
+    });
+
+    mousetrap.bind('enter', e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      const { selected } = this.state;
+      if(selected.startsWith('/')) {
+        this.addGroup(selected)
+      } else {
+        this.addShip(selected);
+      }
+      this.setState({ selected: null })
+    })
+  }
+  nextSelection(backward = false) {
+    let { selected, searchResults } = this.state;
+    const { ships, groups } = searchResults;
+    if(!selected) {
+      return;
+    }
+    let groupIdx = groups.findIndex(([path]) => path === selected);
+    let shipIdx = ships.findIndex(ship => ship === selected);
+    if(groupIdx >= 0) {
+      backward ? groupIdx-- : groupIdx++;
+      let selected = _.get(groups,[groupIdx], '[0]');
+      if(groupIdx === groups.length) {
+        selected = ships.length === 0
+              ?  groups[0][0]
+              :  ships[0];
+
+      }
+      if(groupIdx < 0) {
+        selected = ships.length === 0
+              ?  groups[groups.length - 1][0]
+              :  ships[ships.length - 1];
+      }
+      this.setState({ selected });
+      return;
+    }
+    if(shipIdx >= 0) {
+      backward ? shipIdx-- : shipIdx++;
+      let selected = ships[shipIdx];
+      if(shipIdx === ships.length) {
+        selected = groups.length === 0
+              ?  ships[0]
+              :  groups[0][0];
+      }
+
+      if(shipIdx < 0) {
+        selected = groups.length === 0
+              ?  ships[ships.length - 1]
+              :  groups[groups.length - 1][0];
+      }
+
+      this.setState({ selected });
+    }
+
+  }
   deleteGroup() {
     let { ships } = this.props.invites;
     this.setState({
@@ -252,7 +337,8 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             className={
               "list white-d f8 pv2 ph3 pointer" +
               " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d " +
-              (group[1] ? "inter" : "mono")
+              (group[1] ? "inter" : "mono") +
+              ( group[0] === state.selected ? ' bg-gray1-d bg-gray4' : '')
             }
             onClick={() => this.addGroup(group[0])}>
             <span className="mix-blend-diff white">
@@ -276,7 +362,8 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             key={ship}
             className={
               "list mono white-d f8 pv1 ph3 pointer" +
-              " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d relative"
+              " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d relative" +
+              ( ship === state.selected ? ' bg-gray1-d bg-gray4' : '')
             }
             onClick={e => this.addShip(ship)}>
             <Sigil
@@ -374,9 +461,7 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
           }}
         />
         <textarea
-          ref={e => {
-            this.textarea = e;
-          }}
+          ref={this.textarea}
           className={
             "f7 ba b--gray3 b--gray2-d bg-gray0-d white-d pa3 w-100" +
             " db focus-b--black focus-b--white-d"
@@ -389,12 +474,6 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             resize: "none",
             paddingLeft: 36
           }}
-          onKeyPress={e => {
-            if (e.key === "Enter" || e.key === ",") {
-              e.preventDefault();
-              this.submitShipToAdd(this.state.searchValue);
-            }
-          }}
           onChange={this.search}
           value={state.searchValue}
         />
diff --git a/pkg/interface/publish/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js b/pkg/interface/publish/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
index ac5f2d7ead..cb6ffc6096 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/publish/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/publish/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import React, { Component } from "react";
+import _ from 'lodash';
+import Mousetrap from 'mousetrap';
 import urbitOb from "urbit-ob";
 import { Sigil } from "../lib/icons/sigil";
 
@@ -14,13 +16,17 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
         groups: [],
         ships: []
       },
+      selected: null,
       inviteError: false
     };
     this.search = this.search.bind(this);
+
+    this.textarea = React.createRef();
   }
 
   componentDidMount() {
     this.peerUpdate();
+    this.bindShortcuts();
   }
 
   componentDidUpdate(prevProps) {
@@ -127,12 +133,91 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
         }
       }
 
+      let { selected } = this.state;
+      let groupIdx = groupMatches.findIndex(([path]) => path === selected);
+      let shipIdx = shipMatches.findIndex(ship => ship === selected);
+      let staleSelection = groupIdx < 0 && shipIdx < 0;
+      if(!selected || staleSelection) {
+        const newSelection = _.get(groupMatches, '[0][0]') || shipMatches[0];
+        this.setState({ selected: newSelection })
+      }
+
       this.setState({
         searchResults: { groups: groupMatches, ships: shipMatches }
       });
     }
   }
 
+  bindShortcuts() {
+    let mousetrap = Mousetrap(this.textarea.current);
+    mousetrap.bind(['down', 'tab'], e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.nextSelection();
+    });
+
+    mousetrap.bind(['up', 'shift+tab'], e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.nextSelection('backward');
+    });
+
+    mousetrap.bind('enter', e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      const { selected } = this.state;
+      if(selected.startsWith('/')) {
+        this.addGroup(selected)
+      } else {
+        this.addShip(selected);
+      }
+      this.setState({ selected: null })
+    })
+  }
+  nextSelection(backward = false) {
+    let { selected, searchResults } = this.state;
+    const { ships, groups } = searchResults;
+    if(!selected) {
+      return;
+    }
+    let groupIdx = groups.findIndex(([path]) => path === selected);
+    let shipIdx = ships.findIndex(ship => ship === selected);
+    if(groupIdx >= 0) {
+      backward ? groupIdx-- : groupIdx++;
+      let selected = _.get(groups,[groupIdx], '[0]');
+      if(groupIdx === groups.length) {
+        selected = ships.length === 0
+              ?  groups[0][0]
+              :  ships[0];
+
+      }
+      if(groupIdx < 0) {
+        selected = ships.length === 0
+              ?  groups[groups.length - 1][0]
+              :  ships[ships.length - 1];
+      }
+      this.setState({ selected });
+      return;
+    }
+    if(shipIdx >= 0) {
+      backward ? shipIdx-- : shipIdx++;
+      let selected = ships[shipIdx];
+      if(shipIdx === ships.length) {
+        selected = groups.length === 0
+              ?  ships[0]
+              :  groups[0][0];
+      }
+
+      if(shipIdx < 0) {
+        selected = groups.length === 0
+              ?  ships[ships.length - 1]
+              :  groups[groups.length - 1][0];
+      }
+
+      this.setState({ selected });
+    }
+
+  }
   deleteGroup() {
     let { ships } = this.props.invites;
     this.setState({
@@ -252,7 +337,8 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             className={
               "list white-d f8 pv2 ph3 pointer" +
               " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d " +
-              (group[1] ? "inter" : "mono")
+              (group[1] ? "inter" : "mono") +
+              ( group[0] === state.selected ? ' bg-gray1-d bg-gray4' : '')
             }
             onClick={() => this.addGroup(group[0])}>
             <span className="mix-blend-diff white">
@@ -276,7 +362,8 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             key={ship}
             className={
               "list mono white-d f8 pv1 ph3 pointer" +
-              " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d relative"
+              " hover-bg-gray4 hover-bg-gray1-d relative" +
+              ( ship === state.selected ? ' bg-gray1-d bg-gray4' : '')
             }
             onClick={e => this.addShip(ship)}>
             <Sigil
@@ -374,9 +461,7 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
           }}
         />
         <textarea
-          ref={e => {
-            this.textarea = e;
-          }}
+          ref={this.textarea}
           className={
             "f7 ba b--gray3 b--gray2-d bg-gray0-d white-d pa3 w-100" +
             " db focus-b--black focus-b--white-d"
@@ -389,12 +474,6 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
             resize: "none",
             paddingLeft: 36
           }}
-          onKeyPress={e => {
-            if (e.key === "Enter" || e.key === ",") {
-              e.preventDefault();
-              this.submitShipToAdd(this.state.searchValue);
-            }
-          }}
           onChange={this.search}
           value={state.searchValue}
         />