diff --git a/include/wx/generic/srchctlg.h b/include/wx/generic/srchctlg.h
index f1d186b751..37f59df29d 100644
--- a/include/wx/generic/srchctlg.h
+++ b/include/wx/generic/srchctlg.h
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ protected:
 
 private:
     friend class wxSearchButton;
+    friend class wxSearchTextCtrl;
 
 #if defined(__WXMSW__) && !defined(__WXUNIVERSAL__)
     // Implement wxMSW-specific pure virtual function by forwarding it to the
diff --git a/interface/wx/srchctrl.h b/interface/wx/srchctrl.h
index 8d5ff4efdb..866fb7f4a2 100644
--- a/interface/wx/srchctrl.h
+++ b/interface/wx/srchctrl.h
@@ -139,6 +139,9 @@ public:
         Sets the search control's menu object.
         If there is already a menu associated with the search control it is deleted.
 
+        In the ports using the generic implementation of this control, e.g.
+        wxMSW, the menu can be opened from the keyboard using Alt-Down.
+
         @param menu
             Menu to attach to the search control.
     */
diff --git a/src/generic/srchctlg.cpp b/src/generic/srchctlg.cpp
index 8956d91e2b..a4c6f87d04 100644
--- a/src/generic/srchctlg.cpp
+++ b/src/generic/srchctlg.cpp
@@ -81,6 +81,23 @@ protected:
         m_search->GetEventHandler()->ProcessEvent(event);
     }
 
+#if wxUSE_MENUS
+    void OnKeyDown(wxKeyEvent& event)
+    {
+        // Alt-Down is the usual way of opening a drop-down menu and the only
+        // way of opening the search menu from the keyboard, as the button
+        // showing it doesn't accept focus.
+        if ( event.GetKeyCode() == WXK_DOWN && event.AltDown() &&
+                m_search->HasMenu() )
+        {
+            m_search->PopupSearchMenu();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        event.Skip();
+    }
+#endif // wxUSE_MENUS
+
     void OnTextEnter(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
     {
         if ( !IsEmpty() )
@@ -135,6 +152,9 @@ private:
 };
 
 wxBEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(wxSearchTextCtrl, wxTextCtrl)
+#if wxUSE_MENUS
+    EVT_KEY_DOWN(wxSearchTextCtrl::OnKeyDown)
+#endif // wxUSE_MENUS
     EVT_TEXT(wxID_ANY, wxSearchTextCtrl::OnText)
     EVT_TEXT_ENTER(wxID_ANY, wxSearchTextCtrl::OnTextEnter)
     EVT_TEXT_MAXLEN(wxID_ANY, wxSearchTextCtrl::OnText)