diff --git a/src/misc/captcha.rs b/src/misc/captcha.rs
index 61a1ff4..ba1d7e7 100644
--- a/src/misc/captcha.rs
+++ b/src/misc/captcha.rs
@@ -21,15 +21,15 @@ type OnRefresh = Rc<dyn Fn(&mut Window, &mut App)>;
 pub enum CaptchaState {
     #[default]
     Asking,
-    /// The owner checks the answer: Verify spins and takes no press.
+    /// The owner checks the answer: Verify spins and takes no press, and Enter hands nothing over.
     Checking,
     /// The answer did not match.
     Wrong,
-    /// The field rests, and Verify becomes a mark that keeps its focus.
+    /// The field rests, and Verify becomes a mark that takes its focus and the field's.
     Passed,
 }
 
-/// A picture of characters to copy, from the owner, over a field to type them. Verify or Enter hands the answer to the owner, who checks it and says how it stood; the field empties with each answer and keeps focus. With `on_refresh`, a button asks the owner for a new picture.
+/// A picture of characters to copy, from the owner, over a field to type them. Verify or Enter hands the answer to the owner, who checks it and says how it stood; the field empties with each answer and keeps focus, and Verify with nothing typed sends focus to it. With `on_refresh`, a button asks the owner for a new picture.
 #[derive(IntoElement)]
 pub struct Captcha {
     id: ElementId,
@@ -88,12 +88,20 @@ impl RenderOnce for Captcha {
             field.update(cx, |field, cx| field.set_disabled(passed, cx));
         }
         let verify = tab_stop((id.clone(), "verify").into(), !passed, window, cx);
-        let empty = field.read(cx).text().trim().is_empty();
+        if passed && field.read(cx).focus().is_focused(window) {
+            log::info!("captcha: passed; focus goes to the mark");
+            window.focus(&verify);
+        }
+        let checking = self.state == CaptchaState::Checking;
         let answer = {
             let field = field.clone();
             Rc::new(move |window: &mut Window, cx: &mut App| {
+                if checking {
+                    return;
+                }
                 let text = SharedString::from(field.read(cx).text().trim().to_string());
                 if text.is_empty() {
+                    window.focus(field.read(cx).focus());
                     return;
                 }
                 log::info!("captcha: answered");
@@ -108,7 +116,10 @@ impl RenderOnce for Captcha {
         let action = match passed {
             true => div()
                 .id((id.clone(), "verified"))
-                .debug_selector(|| "captcha-verified".into())
+                .debug_selector(|| match verify.is_focused(window) {
+                    true => "captcha-verified-focused".into(),
+                    false => "captcha-verified".into(),
+                })
                 .track_focus(&verify)
                 .flex()
                 .flex_none()
@@ -133,8 +144,7 @@ impl RenderOnce for Captcha {
                 Button::new((id.clone(), "verify-button"), "Verify")
                     .variant(ButtonVariant::Primary)
                     .focus_handle(&verify)
-                    .loading(self.state == CaptchaState::Checking)
-                    .disabled(empty && self.state != CaptchaState::Checking)
+                    .loading(checking)
                     .on_click(move |_, window, cx| answer(window, cx))
                     .into_any_element()
             }
diff --git a/src/misc/tests/codes.rs b/src/misc/tests/codes.rs
index 8caaff4..5505e10 100644
--- a/src/misc/tests/codes.rs
+++ b/src/misc/tests/codes.rs
@@ -99,15 +99,62 @@ fn a_captcha_hands_over_answers_and_keeps_focus(cx: &mut TestAppContext) {
     STATE.set(CaptchaState::Passed);
     show(cx);
     assert!(
-        shown("captcha-verified", cx) && !at_root(cx),
-        "the field kept focus"
+        shown("captcha-verified-focused", cx),
+        "the resting field handed its focus to the mark"
     );
     cx.simulate_input("again");
     press("enter", cx);
     assert_eq!(said().len(), 2, "a passed captcha takes no more answers");
 }
 
-/// Enter on Verify hands the answer over and focus to the emptied field, as Verify rests.
+/// With the field emptied, verdicts and a new ask turn Verify and its mark into each other on one focus handle.
+#[gpui::test]
+fn the_owners_verdicts_leave_focus_in_place(cx: &mut TestAppContext) {
+    let (_, cx) = stage(captcha, cx);
+    press("tab", cx);
+    cx.simulate_input("W7XK");
+    press("enter", cx);
+    STATE.set(CaptchaState::Checking);
+    show(cx);
+    press("tab", cx);
+    STATE.set(CaptchaState::Wrong);
+    show(cx);
+    assert!(!at_root(cx), "Verify stayed a stop through the verdict");
+    STATE.set(CaptchaState::Passed);
+    show(cx);
+    STATE.set(CaptchaState::Asking);
+    show(cx);
+    assert!(!at_root(cx), "the mark's focus went back to Verify");
+}
+
+/// Enter hands nothing over while the owner checks.
+#[gpui::test]
+fn enter_waits_while_the_owner_checks(cx: &mut TestAppContext) {
+    let (_, cx) = stage(captcha, cx);
+    press("tab", cx);
+    cx.simulate_input("W7XK");
+    press("enter", cx);
+    STATE.set(CaptchaState::Checking);
+    show(cx);
+    cx.simulate_input("again");
+    press("enter", cx);
+    assert_eq!(said(), ["W7XK"]);
+}
+
+/// Verify with nothing typed sends focus to the field.
+#[gpui::test]
+fn an_empty_verify_sends_focus_to_the_field(cx: &mut TestAppContext) {
+    let (_, cx) = stage(captcha, cx);
+    press("tab", cx);
+    press("tab", cx);
+    press("enter", cx);
+    assert!(said().is_empty());
+    cx.simulate_input("W7XK");
+    press("enter", cx);
+    assert_eq!(said(), ["W7XK"], "the typing reached the field");
+}
+
+/// Enter on Verify hands the answer over and focus to the emptied field.
 #[gpui::test]
 fn verify_hands_focus_to_the_field(cx: &mut TestAppContext) {
     let (_, cx) = stage(captcha, cx);