diff --git a/ui/src/components/IssueChatThread.test.tsx b/ui/src/components/IssueChatThread.test.tsx
index 17ea34d6..aa6267e6 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/IssueChatThread.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/IssueChatThread.test.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 // @vitest-environment jsdom
 
-import { act } from "react";
+import { act, createRef, forwardRef, useImperativeHandle } from "react";
 import type { ReactNode } from "react";
 import { createRoot } from "react-dom/client";
 import { MemoryRouter } from "react-router-dom";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import { IssueChatThread, resolveAssistantMessageFoldedState } from "./IssueChatThread";
 
+const { markdownEditorFocusMock } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  markdownEditorFocusMock: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
 vi.mock("@assistant-ui/react", () => ({
   AssistantRuntimeProvider: ({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) => <div>{children}</div>,
   ThreadPrimitive: {
@@ -48,7 +52,7 @@ vi.mock("./MarkdownBody", () => ({
 }));
 
 vi.mock("./MarkdownEditor", () => ({
-  MarkdownEditor: ({
+  MarkdownEditor: forwardRef(({
     value = "",
     onChange,
     placeholder,
@@ -60,16 +64,22 @@ vi.mock("./MarkdownEditor", () => ({
     placeholder?: string;
     className?: string;
     contentClassName?: string;
-  }) => (
-    <textarea
-      aria-label="Issue chat editor"
-      data-class-name={className}
-      data-content-class-name={contentClassName}
-      placeholder={placeholder}
-      value={value}
-      onChange={(event) => onChange?.(event.target.value)}
-    />
-  ),
+  }, ref) => {
+    useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({
+      focus: markdownEditorFocusMock,
+    }));
+
+    return (
+      <textarea
+        aria-label="Issue chat editor"
+        data-class-name={className}
+        data-content-class-name={contentClassName}
+        placeholder={placeholder}
+        value={value}
+        onChange={(event) => onChange?.(event.target.value)}
+      />
+    );
+  }),
 }));
 
 vi.mock("./InlineEntitySelector", () => ({
@@ -111,6 +121,7 @@ describe("IssueChatThread", () => {
   afterEach(() => {
     container.remove();
     vi.useRealTimers();
+    markdownEditorFocusMock.mockReset();
   });
 
   it("drops the count heading and does not use an internal scrollbox", () => {
@@ -279,6 +290,52 @@ describe("IssueChatThread", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("exposes a composer focus handle that forwards to the editor", () => {
+    const root = createRoot(container);
+    const composerRef = createRef<{ focus: () => void }>();
+    const requestAnimationFrameMock = vi
+      .spyOn(window, "requestAnimationFrame")
+      .mockImplementation((callback: FrameRequestCallback) => {
+        callback(0);
+        return 1;
+      });
+
+    act(() => {
+      root.render(
+        <MemoryRouter>
+          <IssueChatThread
+            comments={[]}
+            linkedRuns={[]}
+            timelineEvents={[]}
+            liveRuns={[]}
+            onAdd={async () => {}}
+            composerRef={composerRef}
+            enableLiveTranscriptPolling={false}
+          />
+        </MemoryRouter>,
+      );
+    });
+
+    const composer = container.querySelector('[data-testid="issue-chat-composer"]') as HTMLDivElement | null;
+    expect(composerRef.current).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(composer).not.toBeNull();
+
+    const scrollIntoViewMock = vi.fn();
+    composer!.scrollIntoView = scrollIntoViewMock;
+
+    act(() => {
+      composerRef.current?.focus();
+    });
+
+    expect(scrollIntoViewMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ behavior: "smooth", block: "end" });
+    expect(markdownEditorFocusMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    requestAnimationFrameMock.mockRestore();
+
+    act(() => {
+      root.unmount();
+    });
+  });
+
   it("folds chain-of-thought when the same message transitions from running to complete", () => {
     expect(resolveAssistantMessageFoldedState({
       messageId: "message-1",
diff --git a/ui/src/components/IssueChatThread.tsx b/ui/src/components/IssueChatThread.tsx
index f535b9cf..105762a8 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/IssueChatThread.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/IssueChatThread.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,18 @@ import {
   useMessage,
 } from "@assistant-ui/react";
 import type { ToolCallMessagePart } from "@assistant-ui/react";
-import { createContext, useContext, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState, type ChangeEvent } from "react";
+import {
+  createContext,
+  forwardRef,
+  useContext,
+  useEffect,
+  useImperativeHandle,
+  useMemo,
+  useRef,
+  useState,
+  type ChangeEvent,
+  type Ref,
+} from "react";
 import { Link, useLocation } from "@/lib/router";
 import type {
   Agent,
@@ -145,6 +156,24 @@ interface CommentReassignment {
   assigneeUserId: string | null;
 }
 
+export interface IssueChatComposerHandle {
+  focus: () => void;
+}
+
+interface IssueChatComposerProps {
+  onImageUpload?: (file: File) => Promise<string>;
+  onAttachImage?: (file: File) => Promise<void>;
+  draftKey?: string;
+  enableReassign?: boolean;
+  reassignOptions?: InlineEntityOption[];
+  currentAssigneeValue?: string;
+  suggestedAssigneeValue?: string;
+  mentions?: MentionOption[];
+  agentMap?: Map<string, Agent>;
+  composerDisabledReason?: string | null;
+  issueStatus?: string;
+}
+
 interface IssueChatThreadProps {
   comments: IssueChatComment[];
   feedbackVotes?: FeedbackVote[];
@@ -186,6 +215,7 @@ interface IssueChatThreadProps {
   onInterruptQueued?: (runId: string) => Promise<void>;
   interruptingQueuedRunId?: string | null;
   onImageClick?: (src: string) => void;
+  composerRef?: Ref<IssueChatComposerHandle>;
 }
 
 const DRAFT_DEBOUNCE_MS = 800;
@@ -1361,7 +1391,7 @@ function IssueChatSystemMessage() {
   return null;
 }
 
-function IssueChatComposer({
+const IssueChatComposer = forwardRef<IssueChatComposerHandle, IssueChatComposerProps>(function IssueChatComposer({
   onImageUpload,
   onAttachImage,
   draftKey,
@@ -1373,19 +1403,7 @@ function IssueChatComposer({
   agentMap,
   composerDisabledReason = null,
   issueStatus,
-}: {
-  onImageUpload?: (file: File) => Promise<string>;
-  onAttachImage?: (file: File) => Promise<void>;
-  draftKey?: string;
-  enableReassign?: boolean;
-  reassignOptions?: InlineEntityOption[];
-  currentAssigneeValue?: string;
-  suggestedAssigneeValue?: string;
-  mentions?: MentionOption[];
-  agentMap?: Map<string, Agent>;
-  composerDisabledReason?: string | null;
-  issueStatus?: string;
-}) {
+}, forwardedRef) {
   const api = useAui();
   const [body, setBody] = useState("");
   const [reopen, setReopen] = useState(issueStatus === "done" || issueStatus === "cancelled");
@@ -1395,6 +1413,7 @@ function IssueChatComposer({
   const [reassignTarget, setReassignTarget] = useState(effectiveSuggestedAssigneeValue);
   const attachInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement | null>(null);
   const editorRef = useRef<MarkdownEditorRef>(null);
+  const composerContainerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
   const draftTimer = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null);
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -1420,6 +1439,15 @@ function IssueChatComposer({
     setReassignTarget(effectiveSuggestedAssigneeValue);
   }, [effectiveSuggestedAssigneeValue]);
 
+  useImperativeHandle(forwardedRef, () => ({
+    focus: () => {
+      composerContainerRef.current?.scrollIntoView({ behavior: "smooth", block: "end" });
+      requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+        editorRef.current?.focus();
+      });
+    },
+  }), []);
+
   async function handleSubmit() {
     const trimmed = body.trim();
     if (!trimmed || submitting) return;
@@ -1489,6 +1517,7 @@ function IssueChatComposer({
 
   return (
     <div
+      ref={composerContainerRef}
       data-testid="issue-chat-composer"
       className="sticky bottom-0 z-10 bg-gradient-to-t from-background via-background/95 to-background/70 pt-4 pb-[calc(env(safe-area-inset-bottom)+0.75rem)] backdrop-blur supports-[backdrop-filter]:from-background/92 supports-[backdrop-filter]:via-background/82"
     >
@@ -1584,7 +1613,7 @@ function IssueChatComposer({
       </div>
     </div>
   );
-}
+});
 
 export function IssueChatThread({
   comments,
@@ -1623,6 +1652,7 @@ export function IssueChatThread({
   onInterruptQueued,
   interruptingQueuedRunId = null,
   onImageClick,
+  composerRef,
 }: IssueChatThreadProps) {
   const location = useLocation();
   const hasScrolledRef = useRef(false);
@@ -1815,6 +1845,7 @@ export function IssueChatThread({
 
         {showComposer ? (
           <IssueChatComposer
+            ref={composerRef}
             onImageUpload={imageUploadHandler}
             onAttachImage={onAttachImage}
             draftKey={draftKey}
diff --git a/ui/src/components/KeyboardShortcutsCheatsheet.tsx b/ui/src/components/KeyboardShortcutsCheatsheet.tsx
index 9df4ef7f..937292ad 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/KeyboardShortcutsCheatsheet.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/KeyboardShortcutsCheatsheet.tsx
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ const sections: ShortcutSection[] = [
     shortcuts: [
       { keys: ["y"], label: "Quick-archive back to inbox" },
       { keys: ["g", "i"], label: "Go to inbox" },
+      { keys: ["g", "c"], label: "Focus comment composer" },
     ],
   },
   {
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/keyboardShortcuts.test.ts b/ui/src/lib/keyboardShortcuts.test.ts
index f885dfc9..2c463e00 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/keyboardShortcuts.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/keyboardShortcuts.test.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import {
   hasBlockingShortcutDialog,
   isKeyboardShortcutTextInputTarget,
-  resolveGoToInboxKeyAction,
+  resolveIssueDetailGoKeyAction,
   resolveInboxQuickArchiveKeyAction,
 } from "./keyboardShortcuts";
 
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ describe("keyboardShortcuts helpers", () => {
   it("arms go-to-inbox on a clean g press", () => {
     const button = document.createElement("button");
 
-    expect(resolveGoToInboxKeyAction({
+    expect(resolveIssueDetailGoKeyAction({
       armed: false,
       defaultPrevented: false,
       key: "g",
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ describe("keyboardShortcuts helpers", () => {
   it("navigates to inbox on i after g", () => {
     const button = document.createElement("button");
 
-    expect(resolveGoToInboxKeyAction({
+    expect(resolveIssueDetailGoKeyAction({
       armed: true,
       defaultPrevented: false,
       key: "i",
@@ -138,13 +138,28 @@ describe("keyboardShortcuts helpers", () => {
       altKey: false,
       target: button,
       hasOpenDialog: false,
-    })).toBe("navigate");
+    })).toBe("navigate_inbox");
+  });
+
+  it("focuses the comment composer on c after g", () => {
+    const button = document.createElement("button");
+
+    expect(resolveIssueDetailGoKeyAction({
+      armed: true,
+      defaultPrevented: false,
+      key: "c",
+      metaKey: false,
+      ctrlKey: false,
+      altKey: false,
+      target: button,
+      hasOpenDialog: false,
+    })).toBe("focus_comment");
   });
 
   it("disarms go-to-inbox instead of firing from an editor", () => {
     const input = document.createElement("textarea");
 
-    expect(resolveGoToInboxKeyAction({
+    expect(resolveIssueDetailGoKeyAction({
       armed: true,
       defaultPrevented: false,
       key: "i",
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/keyboardShortcuts.ts b/ui/src/lib/keyboardShortcuts.ts
index 7e549c39..8532ed26 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/keyboardShortcuts.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/keyboardShortcuts.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export const KEYBOARD_SHORTCUT_TEXT_INPUT_SELECTOR = [
 const MODIFIER_ONLY_KEYS = new Set(["Shift", "Meta", "Control", "Alt"]);
 
 export type InboxQuickArchiveKeyAction = "ignore" | "archive" | "disarm";
-export type GoToInboxKeyAction = "ignore" | "arm" | "navigate" | "disarm";
+export type IssueDetailGoKeyAction = "ignore" | "arm" | "navigate_inbox" | "focus_comment" | "disarm";
 
 export function isKeyboardShortcutTextInputTarget(target: EventTarget | null): boolean {
   if (!(target instanceof HTMLElement)) return false;
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export function resolveInboxQuickArchiveKeyAction({
   return "ignore";
 }
 
-export function resolveGoToInboxKeyAction({
+export function resolveIssueDetailGoKeyAction({
   armed,
   defaultPrevented,
   key,
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export function resolveGoToInboxKeyAction({
   altKey: boolean;
   target: EventTarget | null;
   hasOpenDialog: boolean;
-}): GoToInboxKeyAction {
+}): IssueDetailGoKeyAction {
   if (defaultPrevented) return armed ? "disarm" : "ignore";
   if (metaKey || ctrlKey || altKey || isModifierOnlyKey(key)) return "ignore";
   if (hasOpenDialog || isKeyboardShortcutTextInputTarget(target)) {
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ export function resolveGoToInboxKeyAction({
 
   const normalizedKey = key.toLowerCase();
   if (!armed) return normalizedKey === "g" ? "arm" : "ignore";
-  if (normalizedKey === "i") return "navigate";
+  if (normalizedKey === "i") return "navigate_inbox";
+  if (normalizedKey === "c") return "focus_comment";
   if (normalizedKey === "g") return "arm";
   return "disarm";
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx b/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx
index 76fd06eb..f9939b9b 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import {
 } from "../lib/issueDetailBreadcrumb";
 import {
   hasBlockingShortcutDialog,
-  resolveGoToInboxKeyAction,
+  resolveIssueDetailGoKeyAction,
   resolveInboxQuickArchiveKeyAction,
 } from "../lib/keyboardShortcuts";
 import {
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ import { useProjectOrder } from "../hooks/useProjectOrder";
 import { relativeTime, cn, formatTokens, visibleRunCostUsd } from "../lib/utils";
 import { ApprovalCard } from "../components/ApprovalCard";
 import { InlineEditor } from "../components/InlineEditor";
-import { IssueChatThread } from "../components/IssueChatThread";
+import { IssueChatThread, type IssueChatComposerHandle } from "../components/IssueChatThread";
 import { IssueDocumentsSection } from "../components/IssueDocumentsSection";
 import { IssueProperties } from "../components/IssueProperties";
 import { IssueWorkspaceCard } from "../components/IssueWorkspaceCard";
@@ -322,8 +322,10 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
   const [galleryOpen, setGalleryOpen] = useState(false);
   const [galleryIndex, setGalleryIndex] = useState(0);
   const [optimisticComments, setOptimisticComments] = useState<OptimisticIssueComment[]>([]);
+  const [pendingCommentComposerFocusKey, setPendingCommentComposerFocusKey] = useState(0);
   const fileInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement | null>(null);
   const lastMarkedReadIssueIdRef = useRef<string | null>(null);
+  const commentComposerRef = useRef<IssueChatComposerHandle | null>(null);
 
   const { data: issue, isLoading, error } = useQuery({
     queryKey: queryKeys.issues.detail(issueId!),
@@ -1310,7 +1312,7 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
     };
 
     const handleKeyDown = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
-      const action = resolveGoToInboxKeyAction({
+      const action = resolveIssueDetailGoKeyAction({
         armed: goToInboxShortcutArmedRef.current,
         defaultPrevented: event.defaultPrevented,
         key: event.key,
@@ -1328,10 +1330,16 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
       }
 
       disarm();
-      if (action !== "navigate") return;
-
-      event.preventDefault();
-      navigate(sourceBreadcrumb.href.startsWith("/inbox") ? sourceBreadcrumb.href : "/inbox");
+      if (action === "navigate_inbox") {
+        event.preventDefault();
+        navigate(sourceBreadcrumb.href.startsWith("/inbox") ? sourceBreadcrumb.href : "/inbox");
+        return;
+      }
+      if (action === "focus_comment") {
+        event.preventDefault();
+        setDetailTab("chat");
+        setPendingCommentComposerFocusKey((current) => current + 1);
+      }
     };
 
     document.addEventListener("pointerdown", handlePointerDown, true);
@@ -1345,6 +1353,12 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
     };
   }, [keyboardShortcutsEnabled, navigate, sourceBreadcrumb.href]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (pendingCommentComposerFocusKey === 0) return;
+    if (detailTab !== "chat") return;
+    commentComposerRef.current?.focus();
+  }, [detailTab, pendingCommentComposerFocusKey]);
+
   const isImageAttachment = (attachment: IssueAttachment) => attachment.contentType.startsWith("image/");
   const attachmentList = attachments ?? [];
   const imageAttachments = attachmentList.filter(isImageAttachment);
@@ -1933,6 +1947,7 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
 
         <TabsContent value="chat">
           <IssueChatThread
+            composerRef={commentComposerRef}
             comments={commentsWithRunMeta}
             feedbackVotes={feedbackVotes}
             feedbackDataSharingPreference={feedbackDataSharingPreference}