diff --git a/packages/primeng/src/multiselect/multiselect.ts b/packages/primeng/src/multiselect/multiselect.ts
index cd5924d09ef..60b440f69be 100755
--- a/packages/primeng/src/multiselect/multiselect.ts
+++ b/packages/primeng/src/multiselect/multiselect.ts
@@ -889,7 +889,7 @@ export class MultiSelect extends BaseComponent implements OnInit, AfterViewInit,
      * Whether to focus on the first visible or selected element when the overlay panel is shown.
      * @group Props
      */
-    @Input({ transform: booleanAttribute }) autoOptionFocus: boolean = true;
+    @Input({ transform: booleanAttribute }) autoOptionFocus: boolean = false;
     /**
      * Callback to invoke when value changes.
      * @param {MultiSelectChangeEvent} event - Custom change event.
@@ -2049,7 +2049,8 @@ export class MultiSelect extends BaseComponent implements OnInit, AfterViewInit,
      */
     public show(isFocus?) {
         this.overlayVisible = true;
-        const focusedOptionIndex = this.focusedOptionIndex() !== -1 ? this.focusedOptionIndex() : this.autoOptionFocus ? this.findFirstFocusedOptionIndex() : -1;
+
+        const focusedOptionIndex = this.focusedOptionIndex() !== -1 ? this.focusedOptionIndex() : this.autoOptionFocus ? this.findFirstFocusedOptionIndex() : this.findSelectedOptionIndex();
         this.focusedOptionIndex.set(focusedOptionIndex);
 
         if (isFocus) {