diff --git a/client/coral-plugin-replies/ReplyBox.js b/client/coral-plugin-replies/ReplyBox.js
index c50bca124..807ad6699 100644
--- a/client/coral-plugin-replies/ReplyBox.js
+++ b/client/coral-plugin-replies/ReplyBox.js
@@ -1,21 +1,29 @@
-import React, {PropTypes} from 'react';
+import React, {Component, PropTypes} from 'react';
 import CommentBox from '../coral-plugin-commentbox/CommentBox';
 
 const name = 'coral-plugin-replies';
 
-const ReplyBox = ({styles, postItem, assetId, authorId, addNotification, parentId, commentPostedHandler, setActiveReplyBox}) => (
-  <div className={`${name}-textarea`} style={styles && styles.container}>
-    <CommentBox
-      commentPostedHandler={commentPostedHandler}
-      parentId={parentId}
-      cancelButtonClicked={setActiveReplyBox}
-      addNotification={addNotification}
-      authorId={authorId}
-      assetId={assetId}
-      postItem={postItem}
-      isReply={true} />
-  </div>
-);
+class ReplyBox extends Component {
+
+  componentDidMount() {
+    document.getElementById('replyText').focus();
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    const {styles, postItem, assetId, authorId, addNotification, parentId, commentPostedHandler, setActiveReplyBox} = this.props;
+    return <div className={`${name}-textarea`} style={styles && styles.container}>
+      <CommentBox
+        commentPostedHandler={commentPostedHandler}
+        parentId={parentId}
+        cancelButtonClicked={setActiveReplyBox}
+        addNotification={addNotification}
+        authorId={authorId}
+        assetId={assetId}
+        postItem={postItem}
+        isReply={true} />
+    </div>;
+  }
+}
 
 ReplyBox.propTypes = {
   setActiveReplyBox: PropTypes.func.isRequired,