diff --git a/frontend/e2e/playlists.spec.ts b/frontend/e2e/playlists.spec.ts
index a5986390..08cc28c9 100644
--- a/frontend/e2e/playlists.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/playlists.spec.ts
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ test.describe("acting on the selected rows", { tag: "@playlists" }, () => {
   }, info) => {
     const { videos, from } = await setUp(page, `keys ${info.project.name}`, info.project.name);
     const firstRow = page.locator("tbody tr").first();
-    await firstRow.focus();
+    await page.keyboard.press("j");
+    await expect(firstRow).toBeFocused();
     await page.keyboard.press("x");
     await expect(box(page, videos[0]!.title)).toBeChecked();
     await page.keyboard.press("Escape");