diff --git a/src/gui/FileListWidget.cxx b/src/gui/FileListWidget.cxx
index fa995b0fb..01f2a53e7 100644
--- a/src/gui/FileListWidget.cxx
+++ b/src/gui/FileListWidget.cxx
@@ -353,6 +353,8 @@ bool FileListWidget::handleKeyDown(StellaKey key, StellaMod mod)
   _lastKey = key; _lastMod = mod;
   if(_quickSelectTime < TimerManager::getTicks() / 1000)
     _firstMod = mod;
+  else if(key == KBDK_SPACE) // allow seaching strings with a space without selecting/starting
+    handled = true;
 
   return handled;
 }
@@ -429,6 +431,7 @@ void FileListWidget::handleCommand(CommandSender* sender, int cmd, int data, int
       break;
 
     case ListWidget::kActivatedCmd:
+      [[fallthrough]];
     case ListWidget::kDoubleClickedCmd:
       _selected = data;
       if(isDirectory(selected())/* || !selected().exists()*/)