diff --git a/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml b/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml
index f59a5cd..8cfa1cb 100644
--- a/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml
+++ b/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml
@@ -60,6 +60,36 @@ WlSessionLockSurface {
         }
     }
 
+    // Keyboard input via TextInput - engages Qt's full input pipeline including
+    // text-input protocol, which is more reliable than Keys on a plain Item in
+    // layer-shell/lock surfaces where raw wl_keyboard delivery can be flaky.
+    // Declared before content so it's below in z-order - content TapHandlers
+    // receive mouse events, while keyboard activeFocus is independent of stacking.
+    TextInput {
+        id: _keyInput
+        anchors.fill: parent
+        focus: true
+        color: "transparent"
+        selectionColor: "transparent"
+        selectedTextColor: "transparent"
+        cursorVisible: false
+        enabled: !root._unlocking && root.auth.state !== "max" && root.auth.state !== "busy"
+
+        onTextChanged: if (root.auth)
+            root.auth.buffer = text
+
+        Keys.onReturnPressed: root.auth.submit()
+        Keys.onEnterPressed: root.auth.submit()
+        Keys.onEscapePressed: {
+            text = "";
+        }
+
+        onActiveFocusChanged: {
+            if (!activeFocus)
+                forceActiveFocus();
+        }
+    }
+
     // Center content
     Item {
         id: content
@@ -224,34 +254,6 @@ WlSessionLockSurface {
         }
     }
 
-    // Keyboard input via TextInput - engages Qt's full input pipeline including
-    // text-input protocol, which is more reliable than Keys on a plain Item in
-    // layer-shell/lock surfaces where raw wl_keyboard delivery can be flaky.
-    TextInput {
-        id: _keyInput
-        anchors.fill: parent
-        focus: true
-        color: "transparent"
-        selectionColor: "transparent"
-        selectedTextColor: "transparent"
-        cursorVisible: false
-        enabled: !root._unlocking && root.auth.state !== "max" && root.auth.state !== "busy"
-
-        onTextChanged: if (root.auth)
-            root.auth.buffer = text
-
-        Keys.onReturnPressed: root.auth.submit()
-        Keys.onEnterPressed: root.auth.submit()
-        Keys.onEscapePressed: {
-            text = "";
-        }
-
-        onActiveFocusChanged: {
-            if (!activeFocus)
-                forceActiveFocus();
-        }
-    }
-
     onVisibleChanged: {
         if (visible)
             _keyInput.forceActiveFocus();