diff --git a/gui/characterEditor.py b/gui/characterEditor.py
index ad29c71c6..ce3d69776 100644
--- a/gui/characterEditor.py
+++ b/gui/characterEditor.py
@@ -612,12 +612,17 @@ class APIView (wx.Panel):
         for charName in list:
             self.charList.InsertStringItem(sys.maxint, charName)
 
+        self.charList.SetItemState(0,wx.LIST_STATE_SELECTED, wx.LIST_STATE_SELECTED)
         self.charList.SetColumnWidth(0, wx.LIST_AUTOSIZE_USEHEADER)
         self.charList.Show()
+
         self.btnFetchCharList.Hide()
         self.btnFetchSkills.Show()
+
         self.Layout()
 
+        self.charList.SetFocus()
+
     def fetchSkills(self, event):
         item = self.charList.GetNextItem(-1, wx.LIST_NEXT_ALL, wx.LIST_STATE_SELECTED)
         charName = self.charList.GetItemText(item)