diff --git a/src/library_glfw.js b/src/library_glfw.js
index 7a07e3633e98d..052a561468283 100644
--- a/src/library_glfw.js
+++ b/src/library_glfw.js
@@ -419,7 +419,10 @@ var LibraryGLFW = {
       // This logic comes directly from the sdl implementation. We cannot
       // call preventDefault on all keydown events otherwise onKeyPress will
       // not get called
-      if (event.key == 'Backspace' || event.key == 'Tab') {
+      // Prevent default backspace and tab behavior when the target 
+      // is not an input or textarea. Otherwise, no text in the site can be deleted.
+      if (event.target.tagName !== "INPUT" && event.target.tagName !== "TEXTAREA" &&
+        (event.key == 'Backspace' || event.key == 'Tab')) {
         event.preventDefault();
       }
     },
diff --git a/src/library_sdl.js b/src/library_sdl.js
index a0a0edb4c6c19..c5bffe5a5c896 100644
--- a/src/library_sdl.js
+++ b/src/library_sdl.js
@@ -696,8 +696,13 @@ var LibrarySDL = {
           // won't fire. However, it's fine (and in some cases necessary) to
           // preventDefault for keys that don't generate a character. Otherwise,
           // preventDefault is the right thing to do in general.
-          if (event.type !== 'keydown' || (!SDL.unicode && !SDL.textInput) || (event.key == 'Backspace' || event.key == 'Tab')) {
-            event.preventDefault();
+          // Prevent default backspace and tab behavior when the target 
+          // is not an input or textarea. Otherwise, no text in the site can be deleted.
+          if (event.type !== 'keydown' ||
+              (!SDL.unicode && !SDL.textInput) ||
+              ((event.key == 'Backspace' || event.key == 'Tab') &&
+                  event.target.tagName !== "INPUT" && event.target.tagName !== "TEXTAREA")) {
+              event.preventDefault();
           }
 
           if (event.type == 'mousedown') {