diff --git a/docs/builtin_elements.md b/docs/builtin_elements.md
index e80329a59..343bdd8c8 100644
--- a/docs/builtin_elements.md
+++ b/docs/builtin_elements.md
@@ -244,6 +244,9 @@ The `TextInput` is a lower-level item that shows text and allows entering text.
   within the item
 * **`has_focus`** (*bool*): Set to true when item is focused and receives keyboard events.
 
+### Methods
+
+* **`focus()`** Call this function to focus the text input and make it receive future keyboard events.
 
 ### Example
 
diff --git a/docs/langref.md b/docs/langref.md
index 33708594f..0cac5aca5 100644
--- a/docs/langref.md
+++ b/docs/langref.md
@@ -574,4 +574,22 @@ App := Window {
         label2 := LabeledInput {}
     }
 }
+```
+
+It's also possible to manually activate the focus on elements such as ```TextInput```:
+
+```60
+import { Button } from "sixtyfps_widgets.60";
+
+App := Window {
+    GridLayout {
+        Button {
+            text: "press me";
+            clicked => { input.focus(); }
+        }
+        input := TextInput {
+            text: "I am a text input field";
+        }
+    }
+}
 ```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/sixtyfps_compiler/expression_tree.rs b/sixtyfps_compiler/expression_tree.rs
index 77b9c322f..971665e38 100644
--- a/sixtyfps_compiler/expression_tree.rs
+++ b/sixtyfps_compiler/expression_tree.rs
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@ LICENSE END */
 use crate::diagnostics::{BuildDiagnostics, Spanned, SpannedWithSourceFile};
 use crate::object_tree::*;
 use crate::parser::SyntaxNodeWithSourceFile;
-use crate::typeregister::BuiltinElement;
-use crate::typeregister::{EnumerationValue, Type};
+use crate::typeregister::{BuiltinElement, EnumerationValue, Type};
 use core::cell::RefCell;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::hash::Hash;
@@ -188,6 +187,14 @@ pub enum Expression {
     /// Reference to a function built into the run-time, implemented natively
     BuiltinFunctionReference(BuiltinFunction),
 
+    /// A MemberFunction expression exists only for a short time, for example for `item.focus()` to be translated to
+    /// a regular FunctionCall expression where the base becomes the first argument.
+    MemberFunction {
+        base: Box<Expression>,
+        base_node: SyntaxNodeWithSourceFile,
+        member: Box<Expression>,
+    },
+
     /// A reference to a specific element. This isn't possible to create in .60 syntax itself, but intermediate passes may generate this
     /// type of expression.
     ElementReference(Weak<RefCell<Element>>),
@@ -323,6 +330,7 @@ impl Expression {
                 element.upgrade().unwrap().borrow().lookup_property(name)
             }
             Expression::BuiltinFunctionReference(funcref) => funcref.ty(),
+            Expression::MemberFunction { member, .. } => member.ty(),
             Expression::ElementReference(_) => Type::ElementReference,
             Expression::RepeaterIndexReference { .. } => Type::Int32,
             Expression::RepeaterModelReference { element } => {
@@ -409,6 +417,10 @@ impl Expression {
             Expression::PropertyReference { .. } => {}
             Expression::FunctionParameterReference { .. } => {}
             Expression::BuiltinFunctionReference { .. } => {}
+            Expression::MemberFunction { base, member, .. } => {
+                visitor(&**base);
+                visitor(&**member);
+            }
             Expression::ElementReference(_) => {}
             Expression::ObjectAccess { base, .. } => visitor(&**base),
             Expression::RepeaterIndexReference { .. } => {}
@@ -472,6 +484,10 @@ impl Expression {
             Expression::PropertyReference { .. } => {}
             Expression::FunctionParameterReference { .. } => {}
             Expression::BuiltinFunctionReference { .. } => {}
+            Expression::MemberFunction { base, member, .. } => {
+                visitor(&mut **base);
+                visitor(&mut **member);
+            }
             Expression::ElementReference(_) => {}
             Expression::ObjectAccess { base, .. } => visitor(&mut **base),
             Expression::RepeaterIndexReference { .. } => {}
@@ -534,6 +550,7 @@ impl Expression {
             Expression::SignalReference { .. } => false,
             Expression::PropertyReference { .. } => false,
             Expression::BuiltinFunctionReference { .. } => false,
+            Expression::MemberFunction { .. } => false,
             Expression::ElementReference(_) => false,
             Expression::RepeaterIndexReference { .. } => false,
             Expression::RepeaterModelReference { .. } => false,
diff --git a/sixtyfps_compiler/generator/cpp.rs b/sixtyfps_compiler/generator/cpp.rs
index 5d5dd0770..3493d8884 100644
--- a/sixtyfps_compiler/generator/cpp.rs
+++ b/sixtyfps_compiler/generator/cpp.rs
@@ -1073,6 +1073,7 @@ fn compile_expression(e: &crate::expression_tree::Expression, component: &Rc<Com
             }
         },
         Expression::ElementReference(_) => todo!("Element references are only supported in the context of built-in function calls at the moment"),
+        Expression::MemberFunction { .. } => panic!("member function expressions must not appear in the code generator anymore"),
         Expression::RepeaterIndexReference { element } => {
             let access = access_member(
                 &element.upgrade().unwrap().borrow().base_type.as_component().root_element,
diff --git a/sixtyfps_compiler/generator/rust.rs b/sixtyfps_compiler/generator/rust.rs
index 35b5d584e..25e57e200 100644
--- a/sixtyfps_compiler/generator/rust.rs
+++ b/sixtyfps_compiler/generator/rust.rs
@@ -885,7 +885,8 @@ fn compile_expression(e: &Expression, component: &Rc<Component>) -> TokenStream
             BuiltinFunction::Debug => quote!((|x| println!("{:?}", x))),
             BuiltinFunction::SetFocusItem => panic!("internal error: SetFocusItem is handled directly in CallFunction")
         },
-        Expression::ElementReference(_) => todo!("Element references are only supported in the context of built-in function calls at the moment"),        
+        Expression::ElementReference(_) => todo!("Element references are only supported in the context of built-in function calls at the moment"),
+        Expression::MemberFunction{ .. } => panic!("member function expressions must not appear in the code generator anymore"),
         Expression::RepeaterIndexReference { element } => {
             let access = access_member(
                 &element.upgrade().unwrap().borrow().base_type.as_component().root_element,
diff --git a/sixtyfps_compiler/passes/resolving.rs b/sixtyfps_compiler/passes/resolving.rs
index 9a5ce7b0e..f6d4713d9 100644
--- a/sixtyfps_compiler/passes/resolving.rs
+++ b/sixtyfps_compiler/passes/resolving.rs
@@ -405,6 +405,14 @@ impl Expression {
                     element: Rc::downgrade(&elem),
                     name: prop_name.to_string(),
                 });
+            } else if matches!(p, Type::Function{..}) {
+                let member =
+                    elem.borrow().base_type.lookup_member_function(prop_name.text().as_str());
+                return Self::MemberFunction {
+                    base: Box::new(Expression::ElementReference(Rc::downgrade(&elem))),
+                    base_node: node,
+                    member: Box::new(member),
+                };
             } else {
                 ctx.diag.push_error(format!("Cannot access property '{}'", prop_name), &prop_name);
                 return Self::Invalid;
@@ -497,9 +505,19 @@ impl Expression {
         ctx: &mut LookupCtx,
     ) -> Expression {
         let mut sub_expr =
-            node.Expression().map(|n| (Self::from_expression_node(n.clone(), ctx), n));
-        let function = Box::new(sub_expr.next().map_or(Expression::Invalid, |e| e.0));
-        let arguments = sub_expr.collect::<Vec<_>>();
+            node.Expression().map(|n| (Self::from_expression_node(n.clone(), ctx), n.0));
+
+        let mut arguments = Vec::new();
+
+        let function = sub_expr.next().map_or(Expression::Invalid, |e| e.0);
+        let function = if let Expression::MemberFunction { base, base_node, member } = function {
+            arguments.push((*base, base_node));
+            member
+        } else {
+            Box::new(function)
+        };
+
+        arguments.extend(sub_expr);
 
         let arguments = match function.ty() {
             Type::Function { args, .. } | Type::Signal { args } => {
diff --git a/sixtyfps_compiler/typeregister.rs b/sixtyfps_compiler/typeregister.rs
index ae4c4bde5..ee9b7298d 100644
--- a/sixtyfps_compiler/typeregister.rs
+++ b/sixtyfps_compiler/typeregister.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ LICENSE END */
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::{cell::RefCell, fmt::Display, rc::Rc};
 
-use crate::expression_tree::{Expression, Unit};
+use crate::expression_tree::{BuiltinFunction, Expression, Unit};
 use crate::object_tree::Component;
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
@@ -232,6 +232,13 @@ impl Type {
         tr.lookup_element(name)
     }
 
+    pub fn lookup_member_function(&self, name: &str) -> Expression {
+        match self {
+            Type::Builtin(builtin) => builtin.member_functions.get(name).unwrap().clone(),
+            _ => Expression::Invalid,
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Assume this is a builtin type, panic if it isn't
     pub fn as_builtin(&self) -> &BuiltinElement {
         match self {
@@ -435,6 +442,7 @@ pub struct BuiltinElement {
     pub disallow_global_types_as_child_elements: bool,
     /// Non-item type do not have reserved properties (x/width/rowspan/...) added to them  (eg: PropertyAnimation)
     pub is_non_item_type: bool,
+    pub member_functions: HashMap<String, Expression>,
 }
 
 impl BuiltinElement {
@@ -525,19 +533,32 @@ impl TypeRegister {
         let text_vertical_alignment =
             declare_enum("TextVerticalAlignment", &["align_top", "align_center", "align_bottom"]);
 
+        let native_class_with_member_functions =
+            |tr: &mut TypeRegister,
+             name: &str,
+             properties: &[(&str, Type)],
+             default_bindings: &[(&str, Expression)],
+             member_functions: &[(&str, Type, Expression)]| {
+                let native = Rc::new(NativeClass::new_with_properties(
+                    name,
+                    properties.iter().map(|(n, t)| (n.to_string(), t.clone())),
+                ));
+                let mut builtin = BuiltinElement::new(native);
+                for (prop, expr) in default_bindings {
+                    builtin.default_bindings.insert(prop.to_string(), expr.clone());
+                }
+                for (name, funtype, fun) in member_functions {
+                    builtin.properties.insert(name.to_string(), funtype.clone());
+                    builtin.member_functions.insert(name.to_string(), fun.clone());
+                }
+                tr.types.insert(name.to_string(), Type::Builtin(Rc::new(builtin)));
+            };
+
         let native_class = |tr: &mut TypeRegister,
                             name: &str,
                             properties: &[(&str, Type)],
                             default_bindings: &[(&str, Expression)]| {
-            let native = Rc::new(NativeClass::new_with_properties(
-                name,
-                properties.iter().map(|(n, t)| (n.to_string(), t.clone())),
-            ));
-            let mut builtin = BuiltinElement::new(native);
-            for (prop, expr) in default_bindings {
-                builtin.default_bindings.insert(prop.to_string(), expr.clone());
-            }
-            tr.types.insert(name.to_string(), Type::Builtin(Rc::new(builtin)));
+            native_class_with_member_functions(tr, name, properties, default_bindings, &[])
         };
 
         let mut rectangle = NativeClass::new("Rectangle");
@@ -636,7 +657,7 @@ impl TypeRegister {
 
         native_class(&mut r, "Window", &[("width", Type::Length), ("height", Type::Length)], &[]);
 
-        native_class(
+        native_class_with_member_functions(
             &mut r,
             "TextInput",
             &[
@@ -682,6 +703,11 @@ impl TypeRegister {
                 ),
                 ("text_cursor_width", Expression::NumberLiteral(2., Unit::Lx)),
             ],
+            &[(
+                "focus",
+                Type::Function { return_type: Box::new(Type::Void), args: vec![] },
+                Expression::BuiltinFunctionReference(BuiltinFunction::SetFocusItem),
+            )],
         );
 
         let mut grid_layout = BuiltinElement::new(Rc::new(NativeClass::new("GridLayout")));
diff --git a/sixtyfps_runtime/interpreter/eval.rs b/sixtyfps_runtime/interpreter/eval.rs
index b08163034..900d097a5 100644
--- a/sixtyfps_runtime/interpreter/eval.rs
+++ b/sixtyfps_runtime/interpreter/eval.rs
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ pub fn eval_expression(
             "naked builtin function reference not allowed, should be handled by function call"
         ),
         Expression::ElementReference(_) => todo!("Element references are only supported in the context of built-in function calls at the moment"),
+        Expression::MemberFunction { .. } => panic!("member function expressions must not appear in the code generator anymore"),
         Expression::PropertyReference(NamedReference { element, name }) => {
             load_property(component, &element.upgrade().unwrap(), name.as_ref()).unwrap()
         }
diff --git a/tests/cases/focus/focus_change_through_signal.60 b/tests/cases/focus/focus_change_through_signal.60
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ce94a7e84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/focus/focus_change_through_signal.60
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+/* LICENSE BEGIN
+    This file is part of the SixtyFPS Project -- https://sixtyfps.io
+    Copyright (c) 2020 Olivier Goffart <olivier.goffart@sixtyfps.io>
+    Copyright (c) 2020 Simon Hausmann <simon.hausmann@sixtyfps.io>
+
+    SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-only
+    This file is also available under commercial licensing terms.
+    Please contact info@sixtyfps.io for more information.
+LICENSE END */
+TestCase := Rectangle {
+    width: 400px;
+    height: 400px;
+
+    signal focus_input1();
+    focus_input1 => { input1.focus(); }
+
+    signal focus_input2();
+    focus_input2 => { input2.focus(); }
+
+    input1 := TextInput {
+        width: parent.width;
+        height: 200px;
+    }
+
+    input2 := TextInput {
+        y: 200px;
+        width: parent.width;
+        height: 200px;
+    }
+
+    property<bool> input1_focused: input1.has_focus;
+    property<string> input1_text: input1.text;
+    property<bool> input2_focused: input2.has_focus;
+    property<string> input2_text: input2.text;
+}
+
+/*
+```rust
+let instance = TestCase::new();
+let instance = instance.as_ref();
+assert!(!instance.get_input1_focused());
+assert!(!instance.get_input2_focused());
+
+instance.emit_focus_input1();
+assert!(instance.get_input1_focused());
+assert!(!instance.get_input2_focused());
+
+instance.emit_focus_input2();
+assert!(!instance.get_input1_focused());
+assert!(instance.get_input2_focused());
+```
+
+```cpp
+TestCase instance;
+assert(!instance.get_input1_focused());
+assert(!instance.get_input2_focused());
+
+instance.emit_focus_input1();
+assert(instance.get_input1_focused());
+assert(!instance.get_input2_focused());
+
+instance.emit_focus_input2();
+assert(!instance.get_input1_focused());
+assert(instance.get_input2_focused());
+```
+
+```js
+var instance = new sixtyfps.TestCase();
+assert(!instance.input1_focused);
+assert(!instance.input2_focused);
+
+instance.focus_input1();
+assert(instance.input1_focused);
+assert(!instance.input2_focused);
+
+instance.focus_input2();
+assert(!instance.input1_focused);
+assert(instance.input2_focused);
+```
+*/