diff --git a/src/platform/packages/private/kbn-esql-editor/src/esql_editor.tsx b/src/platform/packages/private/kbn-esql-editor/src/esql_editor.tsx
index fb16c7f67423f..3dc1aaa527c57 100644
--- a/src/platform/packages/private/kbn-esql-editor/src/esql_editor.tsx
+++ b/src/platform/packages/private/kbn-esql-editor/src/esql_editor.tsx
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ const ESQLEditorInternal = function ESQLEditor({
   const editorRef = useRef<monaco.editor.IStandaloneCodeEditor>();
   const editorModelUriRef = useRef<string | undefined>(undefined);
   const containerRef = useRef<HTMLElement>(null);
+  const suppressSuggestionsRef = useRef(false);
 
   const editorCommandDisposables = useRef(
     new WeakMap<monaco.editor.IStandaloneCodeEditor, monaco.IDisposable[]>()
@@ -479,6 +480,10 @@ const ESQLEditorInternal = function ESQLEditor({
 
   const triggerSuggestions = useCallback(() => {
     setTimeout(() => {
+      if (suppressSuggestionsRef.current) {
+        suppressSuggestionsRef.current = false;
+        return;
+      }
       editorRef.current?.trigger(undefined, 'editor.action.triggerSuggest', {});
     }, 0);
   }, []);
@@ -761,6 +766,7 @@ const ESQLEditorInternal = function ESQLEditor({
     editorRef,
     editorModel,
     openIndicesBrowser,
+    suppressSuggestionsRef,
   });
 
   const {
diff --git a/src/platform/packages/private/kbn-esql-editor/src/resource_browser/use_resource_browser_badge.tsx b/src/platform/packages/private/kbn-esql-editor/src/resource_browser/use_resource_browser_badge.tsx
index 7a811ff51a1e8..7a87410949bcc 100644
--- a/src/platform/packages/private/kbn-esql-editor/src/resource_browser/use_resource_browser_badge.tsx
+++ b/src/platform/packages/private/kbn-esql-editor/src/resource_browser/use_resource_browser_badge.tsx
@@ -20,12 +20,14 @@ interface UseSourcesBadgeParams {
   editorRef: MutableRefObject<monaco.editor.IStandaloneCodeEditor | undefined>;
   editorModel: MutableRefObject<monaco.editor.ITextModel | undefined>;
   openIndicesBrowser: (options?: { openedFrom?: IndicesBrowserOpenMode }) => void;
+  suppressSuggestionsRef: MutableRefObject<boolean>;
 }
 
 export const useSourcesBadge = ({
   editorRef,
   editorModel,
   openIndicesBrowser,
+  suppressSuggestionsRef,
 }: UseSourcesBadgeParams) => {
   const { euiTheme } = useEuiTheme();
   const decorationsRef = useRef<monaco.editor.IEditorDecorationsCollection | undefined>(undefined);
@@ -127,11 +129,17 @@ export const useSourcesBadge = ({
           firstSupportedCommand.range.endColumn + 1
         );
         editor.setPosition(positionAfterCommand);
-        editor.revealPosition(positionAfterCommand);
+
+        suppressSuggestionsRef.current = true;
+
         openIndicesBrowser({ openedFrom: IndicesBrowserOpenMode.Badge });
+
+        // Remove focus from the editor immediately so there is no visible
+        // focus state while the popover mounts and takes over.
+        (editor.getDomNode()?.ownerDocument.activeElement as HTMLElement)?.blur();
       }
     },
-    [editorModel, editorRef, openIndicesBrowser]
+    [editorModel, editorRef, openIndicesBrowser, suppressSuggestionsRef]
   );
 
   return {
diff --git a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-resource-browser/src/browser_popover_wrapper.tsx b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-resource-browser/src/browser_popover_wrapper.tsx
index 56ae043c97f8d..25703542adc5b 100644
--- a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-resource-browser/src/browser_popover_wrapper.tsx
+++ b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-resource-browser/src/browser_popover_wrapper.tsx
@@ -106,15 +106,15 @@ export function BrowserPopoverWrapper<TItem extends { name: string }>({
     searchInputRef.current = node;
   };
 
-  // Focus the search input when popover opens
+  // Focus the search input as soon as the popover opens so that focus
+  // transfers away from the editor immediately (avoids visible flicker).
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (isOpen && !isLoading) {
-      // Use setTimeout to ensure the DOM is ready
-      setTimeout(() => {
+    if (isOpen) {
+      requestAnimationFrame(() => {
         searchInputRef.current?.focus();
-      }, 0);
+      });
     }
-  }, [isOpen, isLoading]);
+  }, [isOpen]);
 
   const filterButton = (
     <EuiFilterButton