diff --git a/Content.Client/Chat/ChatBox.cs b/Content.Client/Chat/ChatBox.cs
index 7e2a7d3d19..5561e70e41 100644
--- a/Content.Client/Chat/ChatBox.cs
+++ b/Content.Client/Chat/ChatBox.cs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ using Content.Client.UserInterface;
 using Content.Client.UserInterface.Stylesheets;
 using Content.Client.Utility;
 using Content.Shared.Chat;
+using Content.Shared.Input;
 using Robust.Client.Graphics;
 using Robust.Client.ResourceManagement;
 using Robust.Client.State;
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ namespace Content.Client.Chat
         /// <summary>
         /// Will be Unspecified if set to Console
         /// </summary>
-        public ChatChannel SelectedChannel;
+        public ChatChannel SelectedChannel = ChatChannel.Unspecified;
 
         /// <summary>
         ///     Default formatting string for the ClientChatConsole.
@@ -279,7 +280,7 @@ namespace Content.Client.Chat
         /// entries (which should not be presented to the user)</param>
         /// <param name="unreadMessages">unread message counts for each disabled channel, values 10 or higher will show as 9+</param>
         public void SetChannelPermissions(List<ChatChannel> selectableChannels, IReadOnlySet<ChatChannel> filterableChannels,
-            IReadOnlyDictionary<ChatChannel, bool> channelFilters, IReadOnlyDictionary<ChatChannel, byte> unreadMessages)
+            IReadOnlyDictionary<ChatChannel, bool> channelFilters, IReadOnlyDictionary<ChatChannel, byte> unreadMessages, bool switchIfConsole)
         {
             SelectableChannels = selectableChannels;
             // update the channel selector
@@ -305,10 +306,15 @@ namespace Content.Client.Chat
                 _savedSelectedChannel = null;
             }
 
-            if (!selectableChannels.Contains(SelectedChannel) && SelectedChannel != ChatChannel.Unspecified)
+            if (!selectableChannels.Contains(SelectedChannel) && (switchIfConsole || SelectedChannel != ChatChannel.Unspecified))
             {
-                // our previously selected channel no longer exists, default back to OOC, which should always be available
-                if (selectableChannels.Contains(ChatChannel.OOC))
+                // our previously selected channel no longer exists or we are still on console channel because we just joined
+                if ((SelectedChannel & ChatChannel.IC) != 0 || SelectedChannel == ChatChannel.Unspecified)
+                {
+                    if (!SafelySelectChannel(ChatChannel.Local))
+                        SafelySelectChannel(ChatChannel.Dead);
+                }
+                else if (selectableChannels.Contains(ChatChannel.OOC))
                 {
                     SafelySelectChannel(ChatChannel.OOC);
                 }
@@ -498,6 +504,24 @@ namespace Content.Client.Chat
             UserInterfaceManager.KeyboardFocused?.ReleaseKeyboardFocus();
         }
 
+        public void CycleChatChannel(bool forward)
+        {
+            Input.IgnoreNext = true;
+            var channels = SelectableChannels;
+            var idx = channels.IndexOf(SelectedChannel);
+            if (forward)
+            {
+                idx++;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                idx--;
+            }
+            idx = MathHelper.Mod(idx, channels.Count);
+
+            SelectChannel(channels[idx]);
+        }
+
         private void InputKeyBindDown(GUIBoundKeyEventArgs args)
         {
             if (args.Function == EngineKeyFunctions.TextReleaseFocus)
@@ -507,9 +531,22 @@ namespace Content.Client.Chat
                 return;
             }
 
+            if (args.Function == ContentKeyFunctions.CycleChatChannelForward)
+            {
+                CycleChatChannel(true);
+                args.Handle();
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if (args.Function == ContentKeyFunctions.CycleChatChannelBackward)
+            {
+                CycleChatChannel(false);
+                args.Handle();
+                return;
+            }
+
             // if we temporarily selected another channel via a prefx, undo that when we backspace on an empty input
-            if (Input.Text.Length == 0 && _savedSelectedChannel.HasValue &&
-                args.Function == EngineKeyFunctions.TextBackspace)
+            if (args.Function == EngineKeyFunctions.TextBackspace && Input.Text.Length == 0 && _savedSelectedChannel.HasValue)
             {
                 SafelySelectChannel(_savedSelectedChannel.Value);
                 _savedSelectedChannel = null;
diff --git a/Content.Client/Chat/ChatManager.cs b/Content.Client/Chat/ChatManager.cs
index 4723bb12f8..a161db96e1 100644
--- a/Content.Client/Chat/ChatManager.cs
+++ b/Content.Client/Chat/ChatManager.cs
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ namespace Content.Client.Chat
             }
 
             // let our chatbox know all the new settings
-            CurrentChatBox?.SetChannelPermissions(_selectableChannels, _filterableChannels, _channelFilters, _unreadMessages);
+            CurrentChatBox?.SetChannelPermissions(_selectableChannels, _filterableChannels, _channelFilters, _unreadMessages, true);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ namespace Content.Client.Chat
                 CurrentChatBox.FilterToggled += OnFilterButtonToggled;
                 CurrentChatBox.OnResized += ChatBoxOnResized;
 
-                CurrentChatBox.SetChannelPermissions(_selectableChannels, _filterableChannels, _channelFilters, _unreadMessages);
+                CurrentChatBox.SetChannelPermissions(_selectableChannels, _filterableChannels, _channelFilters, _unreadMessages, false);
             }
 
             RepopulateChat(_filteredHistory);
diff --git a/Content.Client/State/GameScreen.cs b/Content.Client/State/GameScreen.cs
index a601f2210d..15ce218bc0 100644
--- a/Content.Client/State/GameScreen.cs
+++ b/Content.Client/State/GameScreen.cs
@@ -79,10 +79,10 @@ namespace Content.Client.State
                 InputCmdHandler.FromDelegate(_ => FocusChannel(_gameChat, ChatChannel.AdminChat)));
 
             _inputManager.SetInputCommand(ContentKeyFunctions.CycleChatChannelForward,
-                InputCmdHandler.FromDelegate(_ => CycleChatChannel(_gameChat, true)));
+                InputCmdHandler.FromDelegate(_ => _gameChat.CycleChatChannel(true)));
 
             _inputManager.SetInputCommand(ContentKeyFunctions.CycleChatChannelBackward,
-                InputCmdHandler.FromDelegate(_ => CycleChatChannel(_gameChat, false)));
+                InputCmdHandler.FromDelegate(_ => _gameChat.CycleChatChannel(false)));
 
             SetupPresenters();
 
@@ -136,27 +136,9 @@ namespace Content.Client.State
                 return;
             }
 
-            chat.Input.IgnoreNext = true;
             chat.SelectChannel(channel);
-        }
-
-        internal static void CycleChatChannel(ChatBox chat, bool forward)
-        {
             chat.Input.IgnoreNext = true;
-            var channels = chat.SelectableChannels;
-            var idx = channels.IndexOf(chat.SelectedChannel);
-            if (forward)
-            {
-                idx++;
-                idx = MathHelper.Mod(idx, channels.Count());
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                idx--;
-                idx = MathHelper.Mod(idx, channels.Count());
-            }
-
-            chat.SelectChannel(channels[idx]);
+            chat.Input.GrabKeyboardFocus();
         }
 
         public override void FrameUpdate(FrameEventArgs e)
diff --git a/Content.Client/State/LobbyState.cs b/Content.Client/State/LobbyState.cs
index 6c75e9ab7e..d6635e1984 100644
--- a/Content.Client/State/LobbyState.cs
+++ b/Content.Client/State/LobbyState.cs
@@ -83,10 +83,10 @@ namespace Content.Client.State
                 InputCmdHandler.FromDelegate(_ => GameScreen.FocusChannel(_lobby.Chat, ChatChannel.AdminChat)));
 
             _inputManager.SetInputCommand(ContentKeyFunctions.CycleChatChannelForward,
-                InputCmdHandler.FromDelegate(_ => GameScreen.CycleChatChannel(_lobby.Chat, true)));
+                InputCmdHandler.FromDelegate(_ => _lobby.Chat.CycleChatChannel(true)));
 
             _inputManager.SetInputCommand(ContentKeyFunctions.CycleChatChannelBackward,
-                InputCmdHandler.FromDelegate(_ => GameScreen.CycleChatChannel(_lobby.Chat, false)));
+                InputCmdHandler.FromDelegate(_ => _lobby.Chat.CycleChatChannel(false)));
 
             UpdateLobbyUi();
 
diff --git a/Content.Shared/Chat/ChatChannel.cs b/Content.Shared/Chat/ChatChannel.cs
index cb159bc8c9..9d76beb32c 100644
--- a/Content.Shared/Chat/ChatChannel.cs
+++ b/Content.Shared/Chat/ChatChannel.cs
@@ -61,5 +61,10 @@ namespace Content.Shared.Chat
         ///     Unspecified.
         /// </summary>
         Unspecified = 512,
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///     Channels considered to be IC.
+        /// </summary>
+        IC = Local | Radio | Dead | Emotes | Damage | Visual,
     }
 }