diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index c0c8be48..6046baaf 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ env:
         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
     - secure: >-
         w3Lv07602Y19QSqIEUSW1MH/LuSmWWgmZWCKXB8ZnS+V+hNtOSodmXGBT7gpDK0eFOECMZyuvlJNmNX3c7+SBVAtBKEgrw8Zmwb7vB4AE0o6UE3dh3Cm9hUXUQtaymhoewkzstuMiqao6GrZ4FmaRVed0f0DXJBFUxL8A1LMraN9c05usEtOtkN5Ghfjh5EeFMrI4yM1MrwPgHjHf8sEnSvrmXtCd5aWT6aDWay5HY2mPG2tdHHtkQg2n2HS2loxT5EbS7e1L5XDPYW/Pp1OXa3DFvqVQqZpK0H7xidXNDYCOwdlrIa5Q54UXqqRDyzsTip87pQzVwG7sDJ5Zjtp/icF71xDlcv9WU/CM9MLEqN8A+zpBYeCKapCygQGh899IzJCMeBoahkRxmqL5BUxUiQKcwe0uYCF9aBbkkmMjBABz5rH+QAw0BfGlpJ6dOyoON45WWmPwpOW8HlbcdpbQSeuNRuX9hsYmjNjvqVoaHqrCPBJWrDI3rctIvtbuWj5SDy4YVf2YHv+hJ3p+eF3bmCnErCLmBgSTmJi6oCSEefB/DPVypJGj8K+Izo2wVV6TY9mHgA0wbV7O77ecvyBXDOGt4xFb0lZN4WUMX74Gl7G/5uuj90qqN9bTdCMVRTvjpNy/2DsoprBAwPDh9EDrNSdYELTKxYhlnOeHic3OS0=
-node_js: stable
+node_js: '9'
 addons:
   firefox: latest
   apt:
diff --git a/iron-list.html b/iron-list.html
index b6f48dcf..c54ce7ff 100644
--- a/iron-list.html
+++ b/iron-list.html
@@ -1091,9 +1091,17 @@
       } else if (change.path === 'items.splices') {
         this._adjustVirtualIndex(change.value.indexSplices);
         this._virtualCount = this.items ? this.items.length : 0;
-        // Only blur activeElement if it is a descendant of the list (#505, #507).
-        var activeElement = this._getActiveElement();
-        if (this.contains(activeElement)) activeElement.blur();
+        // Only blur if at least one item is added or removed.
+        var itemAddedOrRemoved = change.value.indexSplices.some(function(splice) {
+          return splice.addedCount > 0 || splice.removed.length > 0;
+        });
+        if (itemAddedOrRemoved) {
+          // Only blur activeElement if it is a descendant of the list (#505, #507).
+          var activeElement = this._getActiveElement();
+          if (this.contains(activeElement)) {
+            activeElement.blur();
+          }
+        }
         // Render only if the affected index is rendered.
         var affectedIndexRendered = change.value.indexSplices.some(function(splice) {
           return splice.index + splice.addedCount >= this._virtualStart &&
diff --git a/test/focus.html b/test/focus.html
index 99c90ba7..c2868490 100644
--- a/test/focus.html
+++ b/test/focus.html
@@ -109,6 +109,28 @@
       });
     });
 
+    test('don\'t blur if no items are added or removed', function(done) {
+      list.items = buildDataSet(100);
+
+      flush(function() {
+        getFirstItemFromList(list).focus();
+
+        assert.notEqual(document.activeElement, document.body);
+
+        list.items[0]['foo'] = 'bar';
+        list.notifySplices('items', [{
+          index: 0,
+          addedCount: 0,
+          object: list.items,
+          type: 'splice',
+          removed: []
+        }]);
+
+        assert.notEqual(document.activeElement, document.body);
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+
     test('don\'t blur when items changed (#449)', function(done) {
       list.items = buildDataSet(100);