diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/lib/layout/layout.jelly b/core/src/main/resources/lib/layout/layout.jelly
index a1a1d2506d..6538db6c16 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/lib/layout/layout.jelly
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/lib/layout/layout.jelly
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ ${h.initPageVariables(context)}
                 <!-- this div is used to calculate the width of the text box -->
                 <div id="search-box-sizer"/>
                 <div id="searchform">
-                  <input name="q" placeholder="${%search}" id="search-box" />
+                  <input name="q" placeholder="${%search}" id="search-box" class="has-default-text" />
                   <st:nbsp />
                   <a href="${%searchBox.url}"><img src="${imagesURL}/16x16/help.png" alt="help for search" height="16" width="16" /></a>
                   <div id="search-box-completion" />
diff --git a/war/src/main/webapp/scripts/hudson-behavior.js b/war/src/main/webapp/scripts/hudson-behavior.js
index d9dfd3deb2..18309bdb9c 100644
--- a/war/src/main/webapp/scripts/hudson-behavior.js
+++ b/war/src/main/webapp/scripts/hudson-behavior.js
@@ -607,6 +607,25 @@ var jenkinsRules = {
         e = null; // avoid memory leak
     },
 
+// scripting for having default value in the input field
+    "INPUT.has-default-text" : function(e) {
+        var defaultValue = e.value;
+        Element.addClassName(e, "defaulted");
+        e.onfocus = function() {
+            if (this.value == defaultValue) {
+                this.value = "";
+                Element.removeClassName(this, "defaulted");
+            }
+        }
+        e.onblur = function() {
+            if (this.value == "") {
+                this.value = defaultValue;
+                Element.addClassName(this, "defaulted");
+            }
+        }
+        e = null; // avoid memory leak
+    },
+
 // <label> that doesn't use ID, so that it can be copied in <repeatable>
     "LABEL.attach-previous" : function(e) {
         e.onclick = function() {