diff --git a/theatre/studio/src/panels/SequenceEditorPanel/DopeSheet/Right/BasicKeyframedTrack/KeyframeEditor/CurveEditorPopover/CurveEditorPopover.tsx b/theatre/studio/src/panels/SequenceEditorPanel/DopeSheet/Right/BasicKeyframedTrack/KeyframeEditor/CurveEditorPopover/CurveEditorPopover.tsx
index 5b67a9d..8b986df 100644
--- a/theatre/studio/src/panels/SequenceEditorPanel/DopeSheet/Right/BasicKeyframedTrack/KeyframeEditor/CurveEditorPopover/CurveEditorPopover.tsx
+++ b/theatre/studio/src/panels/SequenceEditorPanel/DopeSheet/Right/BasicKeyframedTrack/KeyframeEditor/CurveEditorPopover/CurveEditorPopover.tsx
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ const NoResultsFoundContainer = styled.div`
 `
 
 enum TextInputMode {
+  init,
   user,
   auto,
 }
@@ -153,14 +154,16 @@ const CurveEditorPopover: React.FC<IProps> = (props) => {
     inputRef.current?.focus()
   }, [inputRef.current])
 
-  const [inputValue, setInputValue] = useState<string>('')
+  const [inputValue, setInputValue] = useState<string>(
+    cssCubicBezierArgsFromHandles(easing),
+  )
 
   const onInputChange = (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
     setTextInputMode(TextInputMode.user)
     setInputValue(e.target.value)
 
-    const maybeHandles = handlesFromCssCubicBezierArgs(inputValue)
-    if (maybeHandles) setEdit(inputValue)
+    const maybeHandles = handlesFromCssCubicBezierArgs(e.target.value)
+    if (maybeHandles) setEdit(e.target.value)
   }
   const onSearchKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
     setTextInputMode(TextInputMode.user)
@@ -183,7 +186,7 @@ const CurveEditorPopover: React.FC<IProps> = (props) => {
   // in user mode, the text input field does not update when the curve
   // changes so that the user's search is preserved.
   const [textInputMode, setTextInputMode] = useState<TextInputMode>(
-    TextInputMode.auto,
+    TextInputMode.init,
   )
   useEffect(() => {
     if (textInputMode === TextInputMode.auto)
@@ -191,7 +194,9 @@ const CurveEditorPopover: React.FC<IProps> = (props) => {
   }, [trackData])
 
   // `edit` keeps track of the current edited state of the curve.
-  const [edit, setEdit] = useState<CSSCubicBezierArgsString | null>(null)
+  const [edit, setEdit] = useState<CSSCubicBezierArgsString | null>(
+    cssCubicBezierArgsFromHandles(easing),
+  )
   // `preview` is used when hovering over a curve to preview it.
   const [preview, setPreview] = useState<CSSCubicBezierArgsString | null>(null)
 
@@ -214,18 +219,22 @@ const CurveEditorPopover: React.FC<IProps> = (props) => {
 
   ////// Preset reactivity //////
   const displayedPresets = useMemo(() => {
-    const presetSearchResults = fuzzy.filter(inputValue, EASING_PRESETS, {
-      extract: (el) => el.label,
-    })
     const isInputValueAQuery = /^[A-Za-z]/.test(inputValue)
 
-    return isInputValueAQuery
-      ? presetSearchResults.map((result) => result.original)
-      : EASING_PRESETS
+    if (isInputValueAQuery) {
+      return fuzzy
+        .filter(inputValue, EASING_PRESETS, {
+          extract: (el) => el.label,
+        })
+        .map((result) => result.original)
+    } else {
+      return EASING_PRESETS
+    }
   }, [inputValue])
   // Use the first preset in the search when the displayed presets change
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (displayedPresets[0]) setEdit(displayedPresets[0].value)
+    if (textInputMode === TextInputMode.user && displayedPresets[0])
+      setEdit(displayedPresets[0].value)
   }, [displayedPresets])
 
   ////// Option grid specification and reactivity //////
@@ -243,8 +252,10 @@ const CurveEditorPopover: React.FC<IProps> = (props) => {
     setPreview(item.value)
   const onEasingOptionMouseOut = () => setPreview(null)
   const onSelectEasingOption = (item: {label: string; value: string}) => {
-    setTextInputMode(TextInputMode.auto)
-    setEdit(item.value)
+    setTempValue(tempTransaction, props, cur, next, item.value)
+    props.onRequestClose()
+
+    return Outcome.Handled
   }
 
   // A map to store all html elements corresponding to easing options
@@ -316,6 +327,10 @@ const CurveEditorPopover: React.FC<IProps> = (props) => {
         optionsRef.current?.[grid.currentSelection.label]?.current
       maybePresetEl?.focus()
       setEdit(grid.currentSelection.value)
+      const isInputValueAQuery = /^[A-Za-z]/.test(inputValue)
+      if (!isInputValueAQuery) {
+        setInputValue(grid.currentSelection.value)
+      }
     }
   }, [grid.currentSelection])
 
diff --git a/theatre/studio/src/panels/SequenceEditorPanel/DopeSheet/Right/BasicKeyframedTrack/KeyframeEditor/CurveEditorPopover/useUIOptionGrid.tsx b/theatre/studio/src/panels/SequenceEditorPanel/DopeSheet/Right/BasicKeyframedTrack/KeyframeEditor/CurveEditorPopover/useUIOptionGrid.tsx
index 3a945f9..8918af7 100644
--- a/theatre/studio/src/panels/SequenceEditorPanel/DopeSheet/Right/BasicKeyframedTrack/KeyframeEditor/CurveEditorPopover/useUIOptionGrid.tsx
+++ b/theatre/studio/src/panels/SequenceEditorPanel/DopeSheet/Right/BasicKeyframedTrack/KeyframeEditor/CurveEditorPopover/useUIOptionGrid.tsx
@@ -14,13 +14,13 @@ type UIOptionGridOptions<Item> = {
   items: Item[]
   /** display of items */
   renderItem: (value: {
-    select(): void
+    select(e?: Event): void
     /** data item */
     item: Item
     /** arrow key nav */
     isSelected: boolean
   }) => React.ReactNode
-  onSelectItem(item: Item): void
+  onSelectItem(item: Item): Outcome
   /** Set a callback for what to do if we try to leave the grid */
   canVerticleExit?: (exitSide: 'top' | 'bottom') => Outcome
 }
@@ -98,9 +98,12 @@ export function useUIOptionGrid<T>(
       options.renderItem({
         isSelected: idx === selectionIndex,
         item,
-        select() {
+        select(e) {
           setSelectionIndex(idx)
-          options.onSelectItem(item)
+          if (options.onSelectItem(item) === Outcome.Handled) {
+            e?.preventDefault()
+            e?.stopPropagation()
+          }
         },
       }),
     ),