diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/elements/bubbleInput.js b/chrome/content/zotero/elements/bubbleInput.js
index 616a1d5bc1..8173a591a3 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/elements/bubbleInput.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/elements/bubbleInput.js
@@ -100,16 +100,16 @@
 					bubble.classList.toggle("has-item-selected", !!itemObj.selected);
 				}
 			}
-			// Make sure that all inputs occupy the right width
-			for (let input of [...this.querySelectorAll(".input")]) {
-				let requiredWidth = Utils.getContentWidth(input);
-				input.style.width = `${requiredWidth}px`;
-			}
 			// Prepend first input
 			if (!this._body.firstChild || !Utils.isInput(this._body.firstChild)) {
 				let input = this._createInputElem();
 				this._body.prepend(input);
 			}
+			// Make sure that all inputs occupy the right width
+			for (let input of [...this.querySelectorAll(".input")]) {
+				let requiredWidth = Utils.getContentWidth(input);
+				input.style.width = `${requiredWidth}px`;
+			}
 			// Add placeholder and a special aria-description to the first input when there are no bubbles
 			let isOnlyInput = this.getAllBubbles().length == 0;
 			this._body.firstChild.classList.toggle("full-width", isOnlyInput);
diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/integration/citationDialog.js b/chrome/content/zotero/integration/citationDialog.js
index 0af8bb34f9..f84af232a1 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/integration/citationDialog.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/integration/citationDialog.js
@@ -74,9 +74,6 @@ async function onLoad() {
 	// keypress from the top-most row in the items table
 	doc.addEventListener("keydown", event => KeyboardHandler.captureKeydown(event), true);
 
-	// handling of user's IO
-	IOManager.init();
-
 	// Move dialog towards the center (it's needed even though we open the dialog with centerscreen param)
 	let targetX = Math.floor((window.screen.width - window.outerWidth) / 2);
 	let targetY = window.screen.height / 3;
@@ -93,8 +90,13 @@ async function onLoad() {
 	// fetch opened/selected/cited items so they are known
 	// before refreshing items list after dialog mode setting
 	await SearchHandler.refreshNonLibraryItems();
-	// set initial dialog mode when everything is loaded
+	// some nodes (e.g. item-tree-menu-bar) are expected to be present to switch modes
+	// so this has to go after all layouts are loaded
 	IOManager.setInitialDialogMode();
+	// most of IO handling relies on currentLayout being defined so it must follow setInitialDialogMode
+	IOManager.init();
+	// explicitly focus bubble input so one can begin typing right away
+	_id("bubble-input").refocusInput();
 
 	// Disabled all multiselect when citing notes
 	if (isCitingNotes) {