diff --git a/gerrit-gwtui/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/client/admin/ProjectListScreen.java b/gerrit-gwtui/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/client/admin/ProjectListScreen.java
index 331afee920..2a8c497e84 100644
--- a/gerrit-gwtui/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/client/admin/ProjectListScreen.java
+++ b/gerrit-gwtui/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/client/admin/ProjectListScreen.java
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ import com.google.gwtexpui.globalkey.client.NpTextBox;
 public class ProjectListScreen extends Screen implements FilteredUserInterface {
   private ProjectsTable projects;
   private NpTextBox filterTxt;
-  private String subname;
+  private String subname = "";
 
   public ProjectListScreen() {
   }
@@ -158,8 +158,12 @@ public class ProjectListScreen extends Screen implements FilteredUserInterface {
     filterTxt.addKeyUpHandler(new KeyUpHandler() {
       @Override
       public void onKeyUp(KeyUpEvent event) {
-        subname = filterTxt.getValue();
-        refresh(event.getNativeEvent().getKeyCode() == KeyCodes.KEY_ENTER);
+        boolean enterPressed =
+            event.getNativeEvent().getKeyCode() == KeyCodes.KEY_ENTER;
+        if (enterPressed || !filterTxt.getValue().equals(subname)) {
+          subname = filterTxt.getValue();
+          refresh(enterPressed);
+        }
       }
     });
     hp.add(filterTxt);