diff --git a/js/widgets/widget-filter.js b/js/widgets/widget-filter.js
index fe1aec4c..7508f57b 100644
--- a/js/widgets/widget-filter.js
+++ b/js/widgets/widget-filter.js
@@ -816,9 +816,6 @@
 				if ( event.which === tskeyCodes.escape ) {
 					// make sure to restore the last value on escape
 					this.value = wo.filter_resetOnEsc ? '' : c.lastSearch[column];
-				// live search
-				} else if ( liveSearch === false ) {
-					return;
 					// don't return if the search value is empty ( all rows need to be revealed )
 				} else if ( this.value !== '' && (
 					// liveSearch can contain a min value length; ignore arrow and meta keys, but allow backspace
@@ -827,6 +824,11 @@
 					( event.which !== tskeyCodes.enter && event.which !== tskeyCodes.backSpace &&
 						( event.which < tskeyCodes.space || ( event.which >= tskeyCodes.left && event.which <= tskeyCodes.down ) ) ) ) ) {
 					return;
+					// live search
+				} else if ( liveSearch === false ) {
+					if ( this.value !== '' && event.which !== tskeyCodes.enter ) {
+						return;
+					}
 				}
 				// change event = no delay; last true flag tells getFilters to skip newest timed input
 				tsf.searching( table, true, true, column );