diff --git a/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c b/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
index 8fdc9d0739..d2f849a213 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
@@ -2338,7 +2338,7 @@ connect_completion_signals (GtkEntryCompletion *completion)
   gtk_event_controller_set_name (controller, "gtk-entry-completion");
   g_signal_connect (controller, "key-pressed",
                     G_CALLBACK (gtk_entry_completion_key_pressed), completion);
-  gtk_widget_add_controller (GTK_WIDGET (text), controller);
+  gtk_widget_prepend_controller (GTK_WIDGET (text), controller);
   controller = priv->entry_focus_controller = gtk_event_controller_focus_new ();
   gtk_event_controller_set_name (controller, "gtk-entry-completion");
   g_signal_connect_swapped (controller, "leave", G_CALLBACK (text_focus_out), completion);