diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
index d5e1797ac..a931eb66e 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
@@ -1652,6 +1652,8 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
         """
         try:
             elem.set_value(text)
+            # Kick off js handlers to trick them into thinking there was input.
+            elem.dispatch_event("input")
         except webelem.OrphanedError:
             message.error('Edited element vanished')
             ed.backup()
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webelem.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webelem.py
index 1d719738b..621ec91e2 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webelem.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webelem.py
@@ -139,6 +139,10 @@ class AbstractWebElement(collections.abc.MutableMapping):
         """Set the element value."""
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    def dispatch_event(self, event):
+        """Set the element value."""
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
     def insert_text(self, text):
         """Insert the given text into the element."""
         raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webengineelem.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webengineelem.py
index aefa51f5a..44176cf73 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webengineelem.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webengineelem.py
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@ class WebEngineElement(webelem.AbstractWebElement):
     def set_value(self, value):
         self._js_call('set_value', value)
 
+    def dispatch_event(self, event):
+        self._js_call('dispatch_event', event)
+
     def caret_position(self):
         """Get the text caret position for the current element.
 
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitelem.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitelem.py
index 7ec979d09..81cb24780 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitelem.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitelem.py
@@ -128,6 +128,14 @@ class WebKitElement(webelem.AbstractWebElement):
             value = javascript.string_escape(value)
             self._elem.evaluateJavaScript("this.value='{}'".format(value))
 
+    def dispatch_event(self, event):
+        self._check_vanished()
+        if self._tab.is_deleted():
+            raise webelem.OrphanedError("Tab containing element vanished")
+        log.webelem.debug("Firing event on {!r} via javascript.".format(self))
+        self._elem.evaluateJavaScript("this.dispatchEvent(new Event('{}'))"
+                                      .format(event))
+
     def caret_position(self):
         """Get the text caret position for the current element."""
         self._check_vanished()
diff --git a/qutebrowser/javascript/webelem.js b/qutebrowser/javascript/webelem.js
index ad18899f6..5b1a0679b 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/javascript/webelem.js
+++ b/qutebrowser/javascript/webelem.js
@@ -362,6 +362,11 @@ window._qutebrowser.webelem = (function() {
         document.execCommand("insertText", false, text);
     };
 
+    funcs.dispatch_event = (id, event) => {
+        const elem = elements[id];
+        elem.dispatchEvent(new Event(event));
+    };
+
     funcs.set_attribute = (id, name, value) => {
         elements[id].setAttribute(name, value);
     };