diff --git a/js/ui/workspaceThumbnail.js b/js/ui/workspaceThumbnail.js
index 3a5432058..8fde2b9ef 100644
--- a/js/ui/workspaceThumbnail.js
+++ b/js/ui/workspaceThumbnail.js
@@ -493,6 +493,7 @@ const ThumbnailsBox = new Lang.Class({
     _init: function() {
         this.actor = new Shell.GenericContainer({ reactive: true,
                                                   style_class: 'workspace-thumbnails',
+                                                  can_focus: true,
                                                   request_mode: Clutter.RequestMode.WIDTH_FOR_HEIGHT });
         this.actor.connect('get-preferred-width', Lang.bind(this, this._getPreferredWidth));
         this.actor.connect('get-preferred-height', Lang.bind(this, this._getPreferredHeight));
@@ -545,6 +546,8 @@ const ThumbnailsBox = new Lang.Class({
         this.actor.connect('button-release-event', Lang.bind(this, this._onButtonRelease));
         this.actor.connect('scroll-event',
                            Lang.bind(this, this._onScrollEvent));
+        this.actor.connect('key-release-event',
+                           Lang.bind(this, this._onKeyRelease));
 
         Main.overview.connect('showing',
                               Lang.bind(this, this._createThumbnails));
@@ -1247,5 +1250,19 @@ const ThumbnailsBox = new Lang.Class({
             Main.wm.actionMoveWorkspace(Meta.MotionDirection.DOWN);
             break;
         }
+    },
+
+    _onKeyRelease: function (actor, event) {
+        switch (event.get_key_symbol()) {
+        case Clutter.KEY_Up:
+            Main.wm.actionMoveWorkspace(Meta.MotionDirection.UP);
+            break;
+        case Clutter.KEY_Down:
+            Main.wm.actionMoveWorkspace(Meta.MotionDirection.DOWN);
+            break;
+        case Clutter.KEY_Return:
+            Main.overview.toggle();
+            break;
+        }
     }
 });