diff --git a/data/gui/roster_window.ui b/data/gui/roster_window.ui
index 370741f5b..ee6524241 100644
--- a/data/gui/roster_window.ui
+++ b/data/gui/roster_window.ui
@@ -344,7 +344,8 @@
                 <property name="orientation">vertical</property>
                 <child>
 		  <object class="GtkEntry" id="roster_filter_entry">
-		    <property name="visible">True</property>
+		    <property name="visible">False</property>
+		    <property name="editable">False</property>
 		    <property name="can_focus">True</property>
 		    <signal name="insert_at_cursor" handler="on_roster_filter_entry_insert_at_cursor" />
 		  </object>
diff --git a/src/roster_window.py b/src/roster_window.py
index 4de083742..1b68f6a2a 100644
--- a/src/roster_window.py
+++ b/src/roster_window.py
@@ -4171,7 +4171,8 @@ class RosterWindow:
 
     def on_show_roster_filter_menuitem_toggled(self, widget):
         """ Show the roster filter entry """
-        pass
+        self.xml.get_object('roster_filter_entry').set_visible(widget.get_active())
+        self.xml.get_object('roster_filter_entry').set_editable(widget.get_active())
 
     def on_roster_hpaned_notify(self, pane, gparamspec):
         """