diff --git a/src/wp-includes/css/admin-bar.css b/src/wp-includes/css/admin-bar.css
index 1cac6ed25d..3ff4f8a5c9 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/css/admin-bar.css
+++ b/src/wp-includes/css/admin-bar.css
@@ -282,7 +282,8 @@ html:lang(he-il) .rtl #wpadminbar *  {
 #wpadminbar li .ab-item:focus:before,
 #wpadminbar li.hover .ab-icon:before,
 #wpadminbar li.hover .ab-item:before,
-#wpadminbar li:hover #adminbarsearch:before {
+#wpadminbar li:hover #adminbarsearch:before,
+#wpadminbar li #adminbarsearch.adminbar-focused:before {
 	color: #00b9eb;
 }
 
@@ -387,6 +388,10 @@ html:lang(he-il) .rtl #wpadminbar *  {
 	min-width: 270px;
 }
 
+#wpadminbar.ie8 #wp-admin-bar-my-account.with-avatar .ab-item {
+	white-space: nowrap;
+}
+
 #wpadminbar #wp-admin-bar-user-actions > li {
 	margin-left: 16px;
 	margin-right: 16px;
@@ -436,8 +441,8 @@ html:lang(he-il) .rtl #wpadminbar *  {
 	font-size: 11px;
 }
 
-#wpadminbar .quicklinks li#wp-admin-bar-my-account.with-avatar > a img {
-	width: 16px;
+#wpadminbar #wp-admin-bar-my-account.with-avatar > a img {
+	width: auto;
 	height: 16px;
 	padding: 0;
 	border: 1px solid #82878c;
@@ -449,6 +454,10 @@ html:lang(he-il) .rtl #wpadminbar *  {
 	display: inline;
 }
 
+#wpadminbar.ie8 #wp-admin-bar-my-account.with-avatar > a img {
+	width: auto;
+}
+
 /**
  * WP Logo
  */
@@ -552,6 +561,10 @@ html:lang(he-il) .rtl #wpadminbar *  {
 /**
  * Search
  */
+#wpadminbar.ie8 #wp-admin-bar-search {
+	display: block;
+	min-width: 32px;
+}
 #wpadminbar #wp-admin-bar-search .ab-item {
 	padding: 0;
 	background: transparent;
@@ -561,6 +574,7 @@ html:lang(he-il) .rtl #wpadminbar *  {
 	position: relative;
 	height: 32px;
 	padding: 0 2px;
+	z-index: 1;
 }
 
 #wpadminbar #adminbarsearch:before {
@@ -581,6 +595,7 @@ html:lang(he-il) .rtl #wpadminbar *  {
 	font: 13px/24px "Open Sans", sans-serif;
 	height: 24px;
 	width: 24px;
+	max-width: none;
 	padding: 0 3px 0 24px;
 	margin: 0;
 	color: #ccc;
@@ -616,12 +631,18 @@ html:lang(he-il) .rtl #wpadminbar *  {
 }
 
 #wpadminbar.ie8 > #wp-toolbar > #wp-admin-bar-top-secondary > #wp-admin-bar-search #adminbarsearch input.adminbar-input {
-	margin-top: 4px;
-	background-color: #464646;
+	/* IE8 z-index bug with transparent / empty elements - fill in with an encoded transparent GIF */
+	background: transparent 0 0 repeat scroll url("data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBR‌​AA7");
+}
+
+/* IE8 doesn't redraw the pseudo elements unless you make a change to the content */
+#wpadminbar.ie8 #adminbarsearch.adminbar-focused:before {
+	content: '\f179 '; /* extra space */
 }
 
 #wpadminbar.ie8 > #wp-toolbar > #wp-admin-bar-top-secondary > #wp-admin-bar-search #adminbarsearch input.adminbar-input:focus {
-	background-color: #fff;
+	background: #fff;
+	z-index: -1;
 }
 
 #wpadminbar #adminbarsearch .adminbar-input::-webkit-input-placeholder {
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/js/admin-bar.js b/src/wp-includes/js/admin-bar.js
index 405187c5a9..c028db9d64 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/js/admin-bar.js
+++ b/src/wp-includes/js/admin-bar.js
@@ -149,6 +149,14 @@ if ( typeof(jQuery) != 'undefined' ) {
 			}
 		});
 
+		$( '#adminbar-search' ).on({
+			focus: function() {
+				$( '#adminbarsearch' ).addClass( 'adminbar-focused' );
+			}, blur: function() {
+				$( '#adminbarsearch' ).removeClass( 'adminbar-focused' );
+			}
+		} );
+
 		// Empty sessionStorage on logging out
 		if ( 'sessionStorage' in window ) {
 			$('#wp-admin-bar-logout a').click( function() {