diff --git a/e2e/studio/features/filter-bar.spec.ts b/e2e/studio/features/filter-bar.spec.ts
index 279afffe8b3..09fc74545ae 100644
--- a/e2e/studio/features/filter-bar.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/studio/features/filter-bar.spec.ts
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ test.describe('Filter Bar', () => {
       }
     })
 
-    test('Tab selects column from dropdown', async ({ page, ref }) => {
-      const tableName = `${tableNamePrefix}_tab_col`
+    test('Tab exits filter bar to next DOM element', async ({ page, ref }) => {
+      const tableName = `${tableNamePrefix}_tab_exit`
       const columnName = 'name'
 
       await createTable(tableName, columnName, [{ name: 'Alice' }])
@@ -159,14 +159,16 @@ test.describe('Filter Bar', () => {
         await setupFilterBarPage(page, ref, toUrl(`/project/${ref}/editor?schema=public`))
         await navigateToTable(page, ref, tableName)
 
+        await addFilter(page, ref, columnName, '=', 'Alice')
+
         const freeformInput = getFilterBarInput(page)
         await freeformInput.click()
-        await freeformInput.fill(columnName)
-        await expect(page.getByTestId(`filter-menu-item-${columnName}`)).toBeVisible()
+        await expect(freeformInput).toBeFocused()
 
+        // Tab should exit the filter bar (freeform input should lose focus)
         await page.keyboard.press('Tab')
 
-        await expect(page.getByTestId(`filter-condition-${columnName}`)).toBeVisible()
+        await expect(freeformInput).not.toBeFocused()
       } finally {
         await dropTable(tableName)
       }
@@ -784,27 +786,26 @@ test.describe('Filter Bar', () => {
       }
     })
 
-    test('Tab selects dropdown value option', async ({ page, ref }) => {
-      const tableName = `${tableNamePrefix}_kb_tab`
+    test('Shift+Tab exits filter bar to previous DOM element', async ({ page, ref }) => {
+      const tableName = `${tableNamePrefix}_shifttab_exit`
+      const columnName = 'name'
 
-      await query(
-        `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS ${tableName} (
-          id bigint generated by default as identity primary key,
-          is_active boolean
-        )`
-      )
-      await query(`INSERT INTO ${tableName} (is_active) VALUES (true), (false)`)
+      await createTable(tableName, columnName, [{ name: 'Alice' }])
 
       try {
         await setupFilterBarPage(page, ref, toUrl(`/project/${ref}/editor?schema=public`))
         await navigateToTable(page, ref, tableName)
 
-        await selectColumnFilter(page, 'is_active')
-        await selectOperator(page, 'is_active', '=')
+        await addFilter(page, ref, columnName, '=', 'Alice')
 
-        await page.keyboard.press('Tab')
+        const freeformInput = getFilterBarInput(page)
+        await freeformInput.click()
+        await expect(freeformInput).toBeFocused()
 
-        await expect(page.getByTestId('filter-condition-is_active')).toBeVisible()
+        // Shift+Tab should exit the filter bar (freeform input should lose focus)
+        await page.keyboard.press('Shift+Tab')
+
+        await expect(freeformInput).not.toBeFocused()
       } finally {
         await dropTable(tableName)
       }
diff --git a/packages/ui-patterns/src/FilterBar/FilterCondition.tsx b/packages/ui-patterns/src/FilterBar/FilterCondition.tsx
index f94ea8626db..8f7b2425a3f 100644
--- a/packages/ui-patterns/src/FilterBar/FilterCondition.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui-patterns/src/FilterBar/FilterCondition.tsx
@@ -246,6 +246,7 @@ export function FilterCondition({
               disabled={isLoading}
               aria-label={`Operator for ${property.label}`}
               data-testid={`filter-operator-${property.name}`}
+              tabIndex={-1}
             />
             <span className="invisible whitespace-pre text-xs block px-1 shrink-0 px-1">
               {condition.operator || ' '}
@@ -289,6 +290,7 @@ export function FilterCondition({
               disabled={isLoading}
               aria-label={`Value for ${property.label}`}
               data-testid={`filter-value-${property.name}`}
+              tabIndex={-1}
             />
             <span className="invisible whitespace-pre text-xs block px-1">{localValue || ' '}</span>
           </div>
diff --git a/packages/ui-patterns/src/FilterBar/hooks.ts b/packages/ui-patterns/src/FilterBar/hooks.ts
index 45bd4de2237..aa42aa73db7 100644
--- a/packages/ui-patterns/src/FilterBar/hooks.ts
+++ b/packages/ui-patterns/src/FilterBar/hooks.ts
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ export function useHighlightNavigation(
         setHighlightedIndex((prev) => (prev > 0 ? prev - 1 : 0))
         return
       }
-      if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === 'Tab') {
+      if (e.key === 'Enter') {
         // Edge case: when a filter is highlighted, skip dropdown selection and let fallback handle it
         if (options?.skipEnterWhenFilterHighlighted) {
           if (fallbackKeyDown) fallbackKeyDown(e)