diff --git a/lib/ui/src/modules/ui/components/search_box.js b/lib/ui/src/modules/ui/components/search_box.js
index d56e2a1f3715..8ccbce2df892 100644
--- a/lib/ui/src/modules/ui/components/search_box.js
+++ b/lib/ui/src/modules/ui/components/search_box.js
@@ -109,8 +109,6 @@ export default class SearchBox extends React.Component {
         style={modalStyle}
         contentLabel="Search"
         shouldReturnFocusAfterClose={false}
-        // see https://github.com/reactjs/react-modal/pull/540/files#r148984350
-        shouldFocusAfterRender={false}
       >
         <FuzzySearch
           list={formatStories(this.props.stories)}