diff --git a/mailnews/compose/resources/content/addressingWidgetOverlay.js b/mailnews/compose/resources/content/addressingWidgetOverlay.js
index e8c14a7bca64..3e6d9970b2a5 100644
--- a/mailnews/compose/resources/content/addressingWidgetOverlay.js
+++ b/mailnews/compose/resources/content/addressingWidgetOverlay.js
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ function _awSetInputAndPopup(inputValue, popupValue, parentNode, templateNode)
     if ( input && input.length == 1 )
     {
 	    input[0].setAttribute("value", inputValue);
+	    input[0].value = inputValue;
 	    input[0].setAttribute("id", "msgRecipient#" + top.MAX_RECIPIENTS);
 	}
     var select = newNode.getElementsByTagName(awSelectElementName());