diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/AnnotationEditOverlay.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/AnnotationEditOverlay.svelte
index 9793287f..f7ce3c95 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/AnnotationEditOverlay.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/AnnotationEditOverlay.svelte
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ $effect(() => {
 	return () => ro.disconnect();
 });
 
+// Auto-focus the SVG when the overlay mounts so arrow keys work immediately.
+$effect(() => {
+	svgEl?.focus({ preventScroll: true });
+});
+
 type HandleId = 'nw' | 'ne' | 'sw' | 'se' | 'n' | 's' | 'e' | 'w';
 
 // L-bracket arm length in pixels. Each corner shows two short lines meeting at 90°.
@@ -221,24 +226,31 @@ function handleKeyDown(event: KeyboardEvent): void {
 	}, 300);
 }
 
-// Preview rect in pixel space (maps live normalized coords back to SVG pixel coordinates)
+// Preview rect in pixel space (maps live normalized coords back to SVG pixel coordinates).
+// Shown during pointer drag and during keyboard nudging (whenever live coords differ from stored).
 let previewX = $derived(((liveX - annotation.x) / annotation.width) * svgWidth);
 let previewY = $derived(((liveY - annotation.y) / annotation.height) * svgHeight);
 let previewW = $derived((liveWidth / annotation.width) * svgWidth);
 let previewH = $derived((liveHeight / annotation.height) * svgHeight);
+let hasLiveChanges = $derived(
+	liveX !== annotation.x ||
+		liveY !== annotation.y ||
+		liveWidth !== annotation.width ||
+		liveHeight !== annotation.height
+);
 </script>
 
 <div aria-live="polite" class="sr-only">
 	{m.annotation_edit_mode_active()}
 </div>
 
-<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_noninteractive_element_interactions -->
 <svg
 	bind:this={svgEl}
 	viewBox="0 0 {svgWidth} {svgHeight}"
 	role="application"
+	tabindex="0"
 	aria-label="Annotation resize handles"
-	style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; pointer-events: none; touch-action: none; overflow: visible;"
+	style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; pointer-events: none; touch-action: none; overflow: visible; outline: none;"
 	onpointermove={handlePointerMove}
 	onpointerup={handlePointerUp}
 	onkeydown={handleKeyDown}
@@ -255,7 +267,7 @@ let previewH = $derived((liveHeight / annotation.height) * svgHeight);
 		onpointerdown={(e) => handlePointerDown(e, 'move')}
 	/>
 
-	{#if dragState}
+	{#if dragState || hasLiveChanges}
 		<rect
 			x={previewX}
 			y={previewY}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/AnnotationEditOverlay.svelte.test.ts b/frontend/src/lib/components/AnnotationEditOverlay.svelte.test.ts
index e6af36e8..61ab18d6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/AnnotationEditOverlay.svelte.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/AnnotationEditOverlay.svelte.test.ts
@@ -60,4 +60,12 @@ describe('AnnotationEditOverlay', () => {
 		const liveRegion = document.querySelector('[aria-live="polite"]');
 		expect(liveRegion).not.toBeNull();
 	});
+
+	it('SVG root has tabindex="0" so it can receive keyboard focus', async () => {
+		render(AnnotationEditOverlay, { annotation });
+
+		const svg = document.querySelector('svg[role="application"]');
+		expect(svg).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(svg!.getAttribute('tabindex')).toBe('0');
+	});
 });