diff --git a/src/multiselect/__integ__/multiselect.test.ts b/src/multiselect/__integ__/multiselect.test.ts
index a631434167..97c63d6407 100644
--- a/src/multiselect/__integ__/multiselect.test.ts
+++ b/src/multiselect/__integ__/multiselect.test.ts
@@ -231,7 +231,11 @@ describe(`Multiselect with group selection`, () => {
     'group selection selects all enabled child options',
     setupTest(async page => {
       await page.clickSelect();
-      await page.keys(['ArrowUp']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
       await page.keys(['Enter']);
       await expect(page.getSelectedOptionLabels()).resolves.toEqual([
         'Second category',
@@ -246,7 +250,11 @@ describe(`Multiselect with group selection`, () => {
     'group selection deselects all enabled child options on double press',
     setupTest(async page => {
       await page.clickSelect();
-      await page.keys(['ArrowUp']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
       await page.keys(['Enter']);
       await page.keys(['Enter']);
 
@@ -258,7 +266,11 @@ describe(`Multiselect with group selection`, () => {
     'deselecting an element removes the parent from the selected options labels',
     setupTest(async page => {
       await page.clickSelect();
-      await page.keys(['ArrowUp']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
       await page.keys(['Enter']);
       await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
       await page.keys(['Enter']);
@@ -272,6 +284,12 @@ describe(`Multiselect with group selection`, () => {
       await page.clickSelect();
       await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
       await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
       await page.keys(['Enter']);
       await expect(page.getSelectedOptionLabels()).resolves.toEqual([
         'Second category',
@@ -300,9 +318,13 @@ describe(`Multiselect with group selection`, () => {
       await page.clickSelect();
       await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
       await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
       await page.keys(['Enter']);
       await page.keys(['4']);
       await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
+      await page.keys(['ArrowDown']);
       await page.keys(['Enter']);
       await expect(page.getSelectedOptionLabels()).resolves.toEqual([]);
       await expect(page.getTokenLabels()).resolves.toEqual(['option5', 'option6']);
diff --git a/src/select/__tests__/use-select.test.ts b/src/select/__tests__/use-select.test.ts
index 6ae71eed67..3ad81946a7 100644
--- a/src/select/__tests__/use-select.test.ts
+++ b/src/select/__tests__/use-select.test.ts
@@ -240,6 +240,34 @@ describe('useSelect', () => {
     expect(updateSelectedOption).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  test('select without filter should open and navigate to selected option', () => {
+    const hook = renderHook(useSelect, {
+      initialProps: { ...initialProps, filteringType: 'none', selectedOptions: [{ value: 'child1' }] },
+    });
+    const { getTriggerProps } = hook.result.current;
+    const triggerProps = getTriggerProps();
+    act(() => triggerProps.onKeyDown && triggerProps.onKeyDown(createTestEvent(KeyCode.space)));
+    expect(hook.result.current.isOpen).toBe(true);
+    expect(hook.result.current.highlightedOption).toEqual({
+      type: 'child',
+      option: {
+        label: 'Child 1',
+        value: 'child1',
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  test('select with filter should open and NOT navigate to selected option', () => {
+    const hook = renderHook(useSelect, {
+      initialProps: { ...initialProps, selectedOptions: [{ value: 'child1' }] },
+    });
+    const { getTriggerProps } = hook.result.current;
+    const triggerProps = getTriggerProps();
+    act(() => triggerProps.onKeyDown && triggerProps.onKeyDown(createTestEvent(KeyCode.space)));
+    expect(hook.result.current.isOpen).toBe(true);
+    expect(hook.result.current.highlightedOption).toBeFalsy();
+  });
+
   describe('calculates if the highlighted option is selected', () => {
     test('highlighted option is selected', () => {
       const hook = renderHook(useSelect, {
diff --git a/src/select/utils/use-select.ts b/src/select/utils/use-select.ts
index 4c2e2d24fc..36c1efd903 100644
--- a/src/select/utils/use-select.ts
+++ b/src/select/utils/use-select.ts
@@ -249,11 +249,12 @@ export function useSelect({
 
   const prevOpen = usePrevious<boolean>(isOpen);
   useEffect(() => {
-    // highlight the first selected option, when opening the Select component
-    if (isOpen && !prevOpen && hasSelectedOption) {
+    // highlight the first selected option, when opening the Select component without filter input
+    // keep the focus in the filter input when opening, so that screenreader can recognize the combobox
+    if (isOpen && !prevOpen && hasSelectedOption && !hasFilter) {
       setHighlightedIndexWithMouse(options.indexOf(__selectedOptions[0]));
     }
-  }, [isOpen, __selectedOptions, hasSelectedOption, setHighlightedIndexWithMouse, options, prevOpen]);
+  }, [isOpen, __selectedOptions, hasSelectedOption, setHighlightedIndexWithMouse, options, prevOpen, hasFilter]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (isOpen) {