diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/transpose_dialog.cc b/gtk2_ardour/transpose_dialog.cc
index bb980007ff..cf328cdfc9 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/transpose_dialog.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/transpose_dialog.cc
@@ -16,14 +16,20 @@
  * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
  */
 
+#include "transpose_dialog.h"
+
 #include <gtkmm/table.h>
 #include <gtkmm/label.h>
 #include <gtkmm/stock.h>
-#include "transpose_dialog.h"
+
 #include "pbd/i18n.h"
 
 #include <ardour/session.h>
 
+#include "ardour_ui.h"
+#include "utils.h"
+
+
 using namespace Gtk;
 
 TransposeDialog::TransposeDialog ()
@@ -104,6 +110,10 @@ VarispeedDialog::VarispeedDialog ()
 //	add_button (Stock::CANCEL, RESPONSE_CANCEL);
 //	add_button (_("Transpose"), RESPONSE_ACCEPT);
 
+	_octaves_spinner.set_can_focus(false);
+	_semitones_spinner.set_can_focus(false);
+	_cents_spinner.set_can_focus(false);
+
 	_octaves_spinner.signal_changed().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &VarispeedDialog::apply_speed));
 	_semitones_spinner.signal_changed().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &VarispeedDialog::apply_speed));
 	_cents_spinner.signal_changed().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &VarispeedDialog::apply_speed));
@@ -111,6 +121,13 @@ VarispeedDialog::VarispeedDialog ()
 	show_all_children ();
 }
 
+bool
+VarispeedDialog::on_key_press_event (GdkEventKey *ev)
+{
+	Gtk::Window& main_window (ARDOUR_UI::instance()->main_window());
+	return ARDOUR_UI_UTILS::relay_key_press (ev, &main_window);
+}
+
 void
 VarispeedDialog::reset ()
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/transpose_dialog.h b/gtk2_ardour/transpose_dialog.h
index 813885f799..a061faefc3 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/transpose_dialog.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/transpose_dialog.h
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #include "ardour_dialog.h"
 
 
-
 /** A dialog box to select a transposition to apply to a MIDI region.
  *  It asks for octaves and semitones, with the transposition being
  *  the sum of the two.
@@ -57,6 +56,8 @@ public:
 	void apply_speed ();
 	void on_hide ();
 
+	bool on_key_press_event(GdkEventKey*);
+
 private:
 	Gtk::Adjustment _octaves_adjustment;
 	Gtk::Adjustment _semitones_adjustment;