diff --git a/tests/unit/dialog/dialog_core.js b/tests/unit/dialog/dialog_core.js
index b36f6204f..31b245a61 100644
--- a/tests/unit/dialog/dialog_core.js
+++ b/tests/unit/dialog/dialog_core.js
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ test("title id", function() {
 	el.remove();
 });
 
+// TODO test for aria-describedby
+// add only when the attribute isn't anywhere yet
 test("ARIA", function() {
 	expect(4);
 
@@ -42,4 +44,44 @@ test("widget method", function() {
 	deepEqual(dialog.parent()[0], dialog.dialog("widget")[0]);
 });
 
+test( "focus tabbable", function() {
+	expect( 5 );
+	var el,
+		options = {
+			buttons: [{
+				text: "Ok",
+				click: $.noop
+			}]
+		};
+
+	// 1. first element inside the dialog matching [autofocus]
+	el = $( "<div><input><input autofocus></div>" ).dialog( options );
+	equal( document.activeElement, el.find( "input" )[ 1 ] );
+	el.remove();
+
+	// 2. tabbable element inside the content element
+	el = $( "<div><input><input></div>" ).dialog( options );
+	equal( document.activeElement, el.find( "input" )[ 0 ] );
+	el.remove();
+
+	// 3. tabbable element inside the buttonpane
+	el = $( "<div>text</div>" ).dialog( options );
+	equal( document.activeElement, el.dialog( "widget" ).find( ".ui-dialog-buttonpane button" )[ 0 ] );
+	el.remove();
+
+	// 4. the close button
+	el = $( "<div>text</div>" ).dialog();
+	equal( document.activeElement, el.dialog( "widget" ).find( ".ui-dialog-titlebar .ui-dialog-titlebar-close" )[ 0 ] );
+	el.remove();
+
+	// 5. the dialog itself
+	el = $( "<div>text</div>" ).dialog({
+		autoOpen: false
+	});
+	el.dialog( "widget" ).find( ".ui-dialog-titlebar-close" ).hide();
+	el.dialog( "open" );
+	equal( document.activeElement, el.parent()[ 0 ] );
+	el.remove();
+});
+
 })(jQuery);
diff --git a/tests/visual/dialog/complex-dialogs.html b/tests/visual/dialog/complex-dialogs.html
index 03bb160fb..5c2e1d8a1 100644
--- a/tests/visual/dialog/complex-dialogs.html
+++ b/tests/visual/dialog/complex-dialogs.html
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
 
 <div id="dialog-datepicker" title="A dialog with a datepicker">
 	<p>Date: <input id="datepicker"></p>
-	<p><button id="open-autocomplete">Open another window with an autocomplete and a tooltip.</button></p>
+	<p><button id="open-autocomplete" autofocus>Open another window with an autocomplete and a tooltip.</button></p>
 </div>
 
 <div id="dialog-autocomplete">
diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.dialog.js b/ui/jquery.ui.dialog.js
index 003389823..c48d1a804 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.dialog.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.dialog.js
@@ -224,15 +224,24 @@ $.widget("ui.dialog", {
 		return this;
 	},
 
-	// TODO check if dialog already has focus, merge with _keepFocus
 	_focusTabbable: function() {
-		// set focus to the first tabbable element in the content area or the first button
-		// if there are no tabbable elements, set focus on the dialog itself
-		var hasFocus = this.element.find( ":tabbable" );
+		// set focus to the first match:
+		// 1. first element inside the dialog matching [autofocus]
+		// 2. tabbable element inside the content element
+		// 3. tabbable element inside the buttonpane
+		// 4. the close button
+		// 5. the dialog itself
+		var hasFocus = this.element.find( "[autofocus]" );
 		if ( !hasFocus.length ) {
-			hasFocus = this.uiDialogButtonPane.find( ":tabbable" );
+			hasFocus = this.element.find( ":tabbable" );
 			if ( !hasFocus.length ) {
-				hasFocus = this.uiDialog;
+				hasFocus = this.uiDialogButtonPane.find( ":tabbable" );
+				if ( !hasFocus.length ) {
+					hasFocus = this.uiDialogTitlebarClose.filter( ":tabbable" );
+					if ( !hasFocus.length ) {
+						hasFocus = this.uiDialog;
+					}
+				}
 			}
 		}
 		hasFocus.eq( 0 ).focus();
@@ -316,7 +325,6 @@ $.widget("ui.dialog", {
 			.prependTo( this.uiDialog );
 		this._on( this.uiDialogTitlebar, {
 			mousedown: function() {
-				// TODO call _focusTabbable or _keepFocus
 				// Dialog isn't getting focus when dragging (#8063)
 				this.uiDialog.focus();
 			}