diff --git a/app/coffeescripts/AssignmentMuter.coffee b/app/coffeescripts/AssignmentMuter.coffee
index aa96641fced..f863b4b200b 100644
--- a/app/coffeescripts/AssignmentMuter.coffee
+++ b/app/coffeescripts/AssignmentMuter.coffee
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ define [
           click: =>
             @$dialog.disableWhileLoading $.ajaxJSON(@url, 'put', { status : true }, @afterUpdate)
         }]
+        open: => setTimeout (=> @$dialog.find('#assignment_muter_content').focus()), 100
         close: => @$dialog.remove()
         resizable: false
         width: 400
diff --git a/app/views/jst/mute_dialog.handlebars b/app/views/jst/mute_dialog.handlebars
index c280f3068cd..9d0dae49404 100644
--- a/app/views/jst/mute_dialog.handlebars
+++ b/app/views/jst/mute_dialog.handlebars
@@ -1,25 +1,27 @@
 <div title="{{#t "mute_assignment"}}Mute Assignment{{/t}}">
-  <p>
-    {{#t "sure_you_want_to_mute"}}
-      Are you sure you want to mute this assignment? While this assignment
-      is muted, students will not receive new notifications about or be
-      able to see:
-    {{/t}}
-  </p>
-  <ul>
-    <li>{{#t "see_grade"}}Their grade for the assignment{{/t}}</li>
-    <li>{{#t "grade_change_notifications"}}Grade change notifications{{/t}}</li>
-    <li>{{#t "submission_comments"}}Submission comments{{/t}}</li>
-    <li>{{#t "curving_assignments"}}Curving assignments{{/t}}</li>
-    <li>{{#t "score_change_notifications"}}Score change notifications{{/t}}</li>
-  </ul>
-  <p>
-    {{#t "students_will_see"}}Students will be able to see that this assignment is muted.{{/t}}
-  </p>
-  <p>
-    {{#t "how_to_unmute"}}
-      Once you have muted this assignment, you can begin sending
-      notifications again by clicking the "Unmute Assignment" link.
-    {{/t}}
-  </p>
+  <div id="assignment_muter_content" tabindex="-1">
+    <p>
+      {{#t "sure_you_want_to_mute"}}
+        Are you sure you want to mute this assignment? While this assignment
+        is muted, students will not receive new notifications about or be
+        able to see:
+      {{/t}}
+    </p>
+    <ul>
+      <li>{{#t "see_grade"}}Their grade for the assignment{{/t}}</li>
+      <li>{{#t "grade_change_notifications"}}Grade change notifications{{/t}}</li>
+      <li>{{#t "submission_comments"}}Submission comments{{/t}}</li>
+      <li>{{#t "curving_assignments"}}Curving assignments{{/t}}</li>
+      <li>{{#t "score_change_notifications"}}Score change notifications{{/t}}</li>
+    </ul>
+    <p>
+      {{#t "students_will_see"}}Students will be able to see that this assignment is muted.{{/t}}
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      {{#t "how_to_unmute"}}
+        Once you have muted this assignment, you can begin sending
+        notifications again by clicking the "Unmute Assignment" link.
+      {{/t}}
+    </p>
+  </div>
 </div>