diff --git a/src/app/components/multiselect/multiselect.ts b/src/app/components/multiselect/multiselect.ts
index a340481aac0..107c5cafb00 100755
--- a/src/app/components/multiselect/multiselect.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/multiselect/multiselect.ts
@@ -1620,15 +1620,14 @@ export class MultiSelect implements OnInit, AfterViewInit, AfterContentInit, Aft
         if (this.disabled || this.readonly || (<Node>event.target).isSameNode(this.focusInputViewChild?.nativeElement)) {
             return;
         }
-
-        this.focusInputViewChild?.nativeElement.focus({ preventScroll: true });
-
+        
         if (event.target.tagName === 'INPUT' || event.target.getAttribute('data-pc-section') === 'clearicon' || event.target.closest('[data-pc-section="clearicon"]')) {
+            event.preventDefault();
             return;
         } else if (!this.overlayViewChild || !this.overlayViewChild.el.nativeElement.contains(event.target)) {
             this.overlayVisible ? this.hide(true) : this.show(true);
         }
-
+        this.focusInputViewChild?.nativeElement.focus({ preventScroll: true });
         this.onClick.emit(event);
         this.cd.detectChanges();
     }