diff --git a/packages/wallet-webui/src/screens/PeerCreateScreen.tsx b/packages/wallet-webui/src/screens/PeerCreateScreen.tsx
index 18f8bb33d..f2574e5b8 100644
--- a/packages/wallet-webui/src/screens/PeerCreateScreen.tsx
+++ b/packages/wallet-webui/src/screens/PeerCreateScreen.tsx
@@ -189,6 +189,13 @@ export function PeerCreateScreen(props: {
         : { kind: "days", days: Number(expirationMode) as 1 | 7 | 30 };
   const validExpiration =
     expiration.kind !== "custom" || Boolean(expiration.value);
+  const amountInput = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+  const formVisible = !props.review && !props.loading && !scopeUnavailable;
+  // The form appears only after the scopes have loaded, and again when
+  // returning from the review step; the amount is what the user enters first.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (formVisible) amountInput.current?.focus({ preventScroll: true });
+  }, [formVisible]);
   useEffect(() => {
     const sequence = ++previewSequence.current;
     const resolveDefaultExpiration = props.onResolveDefaultExpiration;
@@ -291,7 +298,7 @@ export function PeerCreateScreen(props: {
         </Card>
       )}
       {props.error && <ErrorCard error={props.error} />}
-      {!props.review && !props.loading && !scopeUnavailable && (
+      {formVisible && (
         <form
           class="space-y-6"
           onSubmit={(event) => {
@@ -336,6 +343,7 @@ export function PeerCreateScreen(props: {
             </select>
           </label>
           <MoneyAmountInput
+            inputRef={amountInput}
             // Translators: %1$s is an ISO-style currency code.
             label={i18n.str`Amount (${currency})`}
             value={amount}