diff --git a/docs/changes.txt b/docs/changes.txt
index 481e70a57c..824dda5a7f 100644
--- a/docs/changes.txt
+++ b/docs/changes.txt
@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ wxMSW
 - Fix regression in wxTreeCtrl indent size in high DPI (Maarten Bent, #25282).
 - Fix using wxNO_IMPLICIT_WXSTRING_ENCODING with PCH (#25568).
 - Fix crash when copying wxBitmaps if GDI resources are exhausted (#24703).
+- Fix TAB behaviour in a panel with notebook as only active child (#25443).
 
 wxOSX:
 
diff --git a/src/msw/notebook.cpp b/src/msw/notebook.cpp
index 6eb6f4726b..977249068f 100644
--- a/src/msw/notebook.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/notebook.cpp
@@ -1070,8 +1070,14 @@ void wxNotebook::OnNavigationKey(wxNavigationKeyEvent& event)
             else if ( parent )
             {
                 event.SetCurrentFocus(this);
-                parent->HandleWindowEvent(event);
-            }
+                if ( !parent->HandleWindowEvent(event) )
+                {
+                    // if the parent didn't handle this event, the notebook
+                    // must be its only child accepting focus, so take it
+                    event.Skip(false);
+                    SetFocus();
+                }
+             }
         }
     }
 }