diff --git a/changelog.d/1887.changed.md b/changelog.d/1887.changed.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ed6ca6c12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/1887.changed.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Improve dropdown filter UX: fix tag selection, prevent flicker during updates, and keep search results visible when selecting multiple items
diff --git a/src/argus/htmx/incident/filter.py b/src/argus/htmx/incident/filter.py
index 423eafba4..9a22ca050 100644
--- a/src/argus/htmx/incident/filter.py
+++ b/src/argus/htmx/incident/filter.py
@@ -86,19 +86,18 @@ class IncidentFilterForm(forms.Form):
     )
     sourceSystemIds = forms.MultipleChoiceField(
         widget=SearchDropdownMultiSelect(
-            attrs={"placeholder": "search sources..."},
+            attrs={"placeholder": "Select sources..."},
             partial_get=None,
-            extra={"preload": True, "display_name": "sources"},
+            extra={"preload": True, "display_name": "sources", "search_placeholder": "Search sources..."},
         ),
         required=False,
         label="Sources",
     )
     tags = forms.MultipleChoiceField(
         widget=SearchDropdownMultiSelect(
-            attrs={
-                "placeholder": "search tags...",
-            },
+            attrs={"placeholder": "Select tags..."},
             partial_get=None,
+            extra={"search_placeholder": "Search tags..."},
         ),
         required=False,
         label="Tags",
@@ -147,8 +146,8 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         # mollify tests
         partial_get = reverse("htmx:incident-filter")
 
-        self._init_source_field()
-        self._init_tag_field(*args, **kwargs)
+        self._init_source_field(partial_get)
+        self._init_tag_field(partial_get, *args, **kwargs)
 
         self.fields["source_types"].widget.partial_get = partial_get
         source_type_choices = SourceSystemType.objects.order_by("name").values_list("name", "name")
@@ -161,29 +160,34 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self.fields["special_filters"].widget.partial_get = partial_get
         self.fields["special_filters"].choices = self.SPECIAL_FILTER_CHOICES
 
-    def _init_source_field(self):
-        """
-        Initializes the 'sourceSystemIds' field widget for type-ahead search,
-        pre-loading all sources for client-side filtering.
-        """
-        source_choices = SourceSystem.objects.order_by("name").values_list("id", "name")
-        self.fields["sourceSystemIds"].choices = tuple(source_choices)
-
-    def _init_tag_field(self, *args, **kwargs):
+    def _init_tag_field(self, partial_get, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         Initializes the 'tags' field widget and choices as key=value strings, and dynamically adds submitted tags.
         """
-        self.fields["tags"].widget.partial_get = reverse("htmx:search-tags")
+        self.fields["tags"].widget.partial_get = partial_get
+        self.fields["tags"].widget.extra["search_url"] = reverse("htmx:search-tags")
         query_dict = args[0] if args else None
         if not query_dict:
             self.fields["tags"].choices = []
             return
 
-        tags = query_dict.get("tags", [])
+        if hasattr(query_dict, "getlist"):
+            tags = query_dict.getlist("tags")
+        else:
+            tags = query_dict.get("tags", [])
 
         choices = [(tag, tag) for tag in tags]
         self.fields["tags"].choices = choices
 
+    def _init_source_field(self, partial_get):
+        """
+        Initializes the 'sourceSystemIds' field widget for type-ahead search,
+        pre-loading all sources for client-side filtering.
+        """
+        self.fields["sourceSystemIds"].widget.partial_get = partial_get
+        source_choices = SourceSystem.objects.order_by("name").values_list("id", "name")
+        self.fields["sourceSystemIds"].choices = tuple(source_choices)
+
     def clean_tags(self):
         tags = self.cleaned_data["tags"]
         if not tags:
diff --git a/src/argus/htmx/plannedmaintenance/views.py b/src/argus/htmx/plannedmaintenance/views.py
index 9162b78ae..f5bc08021 100644
--- a/src/argus/htmx/plannedmaintenance/views.py
+++ b/src/argus/htmx/plannedmaintenance/views.py
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ class FilterWidgetMixin:
     def get_filter_widget(self):
         return SearchDropdownMultiSelect(
             partial_get=reverse("htmx:search-filters"),
-            attrs={"placeholder": "Search by filter name or user..."},
+            attrs={"placeholder": "Select filters..."},
+            extra={"search_placeholder": "Search by filter name or user..."},
         )
 
     def get_form(self, form_class=None):
diff --git a/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/checkbox_select_multiple.html b/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/checkbox_select_multiple.html
index 40e75c8c5..21701375f 100644
--- a/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/checkbox_select_multiple.html
+++ b/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/checkbox_select_multiple.html
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   <input type="{{ widget.type }}"
          name="{{ widget.name }}"
          autocomplete="off"
-         {% if widget.value != None %} class="checkbox checkbox-sm checkbox-primary border" value="{{ widget.value|stringformat:'s' }}"{% endif %}
+         {% if widget.value != None %} class="checkbox checkbox-sm checkbox-primary border-base-content/20" value="{{ widget.value|stringformat:'s' }}"{% endif %}
          {% include "django/forms/widgets/attrs.html" %}>
   {% if widget.wrap_label %}
     {{ widget.label }}
diff --git a/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/dropdown_select_multiple.html b/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/dropdown_select_multiple.html
index 43e87fa50..a29fa32eb 100644
--- a/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/dropdown_select_multiple.html
+++ b/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/dropdown_select_multiple.html
@@ -1,29 +1,53 @@
 <!-- htmx/forms/dropdown_select_multiple.html -->
-<div class="dropdown dropdown-bottom"
+<div class="group dropdown dropdown-bottom max-w-sm"
      {% block field_control %}
      id="dropdown-{{ widget.attrs.id }}"
-     hx-trigger="change from:(find #{{ widget.attrs.id }})"
+     hx-trigger="change from:(find .dropdown-content)"
      hx-swap="outerHTML"
      hx-target="find .show-selected-box"
      hx-select="#dropdown-{{ widget.attrs.id }} .show-selected-box"
      hx-get="{{ widget.partial_get }}"
      hx-include="find .dropdown-content"
+     hx-on::before-request="this.classList.add('dropdown-open')"
+     hx-on::after-settle="this.classList.remove('dropdown-open')"
      {% endblock field_control %}>
   <div tabindex="0"
        role="button"
-       class="show-selected-box {{ widget.attrs.field_styles|default:"input input-primary h-auto" }} overflow-y-auto min-h-8 max-h-16 min-w-48 w-full leading-tight flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1">
-    {% if not widget.has_selected %}<span class="text-base-content/50">{{ widget.attrs.placeholder }}</span>{% endif %}
-    {% for _, options, _ in widget.optgroups %}
-      {% for option in options %}
-        {% if option.selected %}
-          {% block show_selected %}
-            <span class="text-primary font-medium">
-              <em>{{ option.label }}</em>,
-            </span>
-          {% endblock show_selected %}
-        {% endif %}
-      {% endfor %}
-    {% endfor %}
+       class="show-selected-box {{ widget.attrs.field_styles|default:"input input-primary h-auto" }} min-h-8 min-w-48 w-full leading-tight flex items-center gap-1">
+    {% if not widget.has_selected %}
+      <span class="text-base-content/50 flex-1">{{ widget.attrs.placeholder }}</span>
+      <svg class="h-4 w-4 shrink-0 opacity-50 transition-transform duration-200 group-focus-within:rotate-180"
+           xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+           viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+           fill="none"
+           stroke="currentColor"
+           stroke-width="2"
+           stroke-linecap="round"
+           stroke-linejoin="round">
+        <path d="m6 9 6 6 6-6" />
+      </svg>
+    {% else %}
+      <span class="flex flex-wrap gap-1 flex-1 items-center overflow-y-auto max-h-14">
+        {% for _, options, _ in widget.optgroups %}
+          {% for option in options %}
+            {% if option.selected %}
+              {% block show_selected %}
+                <span class="text-primary font-medium">
+                  <em>{{ option.label }}</em>,
+                </span>
+              {% endblock show_selected %}
+            {% endif %}
+          {% endfor %}
+        {% endfor %}
+      </span>
+      <button type="button"
+              class="cursor-pointer opacity-50 hover:opacity-100 flex-shrink-0"
+              aria-label="Clear selection"
+              data-clear-field="{{ widget.name }}"
+              onmousedown="event.preventDefault()">
+        <i class="fa-solid fa-xmark" aria-hidden="true"></i>
+      </button>
+    {% endif %}
   </div>
   <div tabindex="0"
        class="dropdown-content bg-base-100 rounded-box z-1 min-w-fit w-full max-h-80 overflow-y-auto p-2 mt-0.5 shadow-sm">
@@ -33,4 +57,14 @@
       {% include "django/forms/widgets/multiple_input.html" %}
     {% endblock field_template %}
   </div>
+  <script>
+  document.getElementById('dropdown-{{ widget.attrs.id }}').addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+    const btn = e.target.closest('[data-clear-field]');
+    if (!btn) return;
+    const dropdown = btn.closest('.dropdown');
+    const name = btn.dataset.clearField;
+    dropdown.querySelectorAll(`input[name="${name}"]:checked`).forEach(i => i.checked = false);
+    dropdown.querySelector('.dropdown-content').dispatchEvent(new Event('change', {bubbles: true}));
+  });
+  </script>
 </div>
diff --git a/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/search_select_multiple.html b/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/search_select_multiple.html
index 395300368..cd1878599 100644
--- a/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/search_select_multiple.html
+++ b/src/argus/htmx/templates/htmx/forms/search_select_multiple.html
@@ -1,75 +1,139 @@
 <!-- htmx/forms/search_select_multiple.html -->
-<select id="id_{{ widget.name }}"
-        name="{{ widget.name }}"
-        class="hidden"
-        data-placeholder="{% if widget.attrs.placeholder %}{{ widget.attrs.placeholder }}{% else %}Search for {{ widget.name }}...{% endif %}"
-        multiple="true">
-  {% for _, options, _ in widget.optgroups %}
-    {% for option in options %}
-      {% if option.selected or widget.extra.preload %}
-        {% block show_selected %}
-          <option value="{{ option.value }}"
-                  {% if option.selected %}selected="selected"{% endif %}>{{ option.label }}</option>
-        {% endblock show_selected %}
-      {% endif %}
-    {% endfor %}
-  {% endfor %}
-</select>
-<script>
-(function () {
-    const selectId = '#id_{{ widget.name }}';
-    const parameterName = '{% if widget.extra.display_name %}{{ widget.extra.display_name }}{% else %}{{ widget.name }}{% endif %}';
-    const searchUrl = '{{ widget.partial_get }}';
+{% extends "htmx/forms/dropdown_select_multiple.html" %}
+{% block show_selected %}
+  <span class="badge badge-primary">{{ option.label }}</span>
+{% endblock show_selected %}
+{% block field_template %}
+  <input type="search"
+         class="input input-sm w-full mb-2"
+         placeholder="{{ widget.extra.search_placeholder|default:'Search...' }}"
+         data-search-input
+         autocomplete="off"
+         onchange="event.stopPropagation()"
+         onkeydown="if(event.key==='Enter'){event.preventDefault();event.stopPropagation()}">
+  {# Hidden input to ensure a value is always included in form submission #}
+  <input type="hidden" name="{{ widget.name }}" value="">
+  <div data-options-container class="max-h-64 overflow-y-auto">
+    {% include "django/forms/widgets/multiple_input.html" %}
+  </div>
+  {% if widget.extra.search_url %}<div data-search-results></div>{% endif %}
+  <script>
+  (function() {
+    const dropdown = document.getElementById('dropdown-{{ widget.attrs.id }}');
+    const searchInput = dropdown.querySelector('[data-search-input]');
+    const optionsContainer = dropdown.querySelector('[data-options-container]');
     const preload = {{ widget.extra.preload|yesno:"true,false" }};
+    const searchUrl = '{{ widget.extra.search_url|default:"" }}';
+    const fieldName = '{{ widget.name }}';
 
-    const choices = new Choices(selectId, {
-        removeItemButton: true,
-        searchResultLimit: 10,
-        duplicateItemsAllowed: false,
-        shouldSort: false,
-        searchEnabled: true,
-        searchChoices: preload,
-        loadingText: 'Loading...',
-        noResultsText: `No ${parameterName} found`,
-        noChoicesText: `No ${parameterName} to choose from`,
-        itemSelectText: '',
-        searchFloor: preload ? 1 : 2,
-        fuseOptions: {
-            threshold: 0.4,
-            ignoreLocation: true,
-        },
-        removeItemIconText: () => '',
-        classNames: {
-            containerOuter: ['choices', 'dropdown', 'max-w-sm', 'self-center'],
-            containerInner: ['choices__inner'],
-            listDropdown: ['choices-dropdown'],
-            listItems: ['choices-list-items'],
-        }
+    const resultsContainer = searchUrl ? dropdown.querySelector('[data-search-results]') : null;
+
+    // Auto-focus search input when dropdown opens
+    dropdown.addEventListener('focusin', (e) => {
+      if (e.target.closest('.show-selected-box')) {
+        setTimeout(() => searchInput.focus(), 50);
+      }
+    });
+
+    // Reset search state when dropdown closes
+    dropdown.addEventListener('focusout', (e) => {
+      if (dropdown.contains(e.relatedTarget)) return;
+      searchInput.value = '';
+      if (preload) {
+        optionsContainer.querySelectorAll('label').forEach(label => {
+          label.style.display = '';
+        });
+      }
+      if (resultsContainer) {
+        preserveCheckedResults();
+        resultsContainer.innerHTML = '';
+        // Remove unchecked items that were added from search
+        optionsContainer.querySelectorAll('[data-from-search]').forEach(label => {
+          if (!label.querySelector('input:checked')) label.remove();
+        });
+      }
     });
 
-    if (preload) return;
+    // Move checked search results into persistent options before replacing
+    function preserveCheckedResults() {
+      if (!resultsContainer) return;
+      resultsContainer.querySelectorAll('input:checked').forEach(input => {
+        const label = input.closest('label');
+        if (label) {
+          label.dataset.fromSearch = 'true';
+          optionsContainer.appendChild(label);
+        }
+      });
+    }
+
+    if (preload) {
+      // Client-side filtering for preloaded options
+      searchInput.addEventListener('input', () => {
+        const query = searchInput.value.toLowerCase();
+        optionsContainer.querySelectorAll('label').forEach(label => {
+          const text = label.textContent.toLowerCase();
+          label.style.display = text.includes(query) ? '' : 'none';
+        });
+      });
+    } else if (searchUrl) {
+      let searchTimeout;
 
-    const choicesElement = choices.passedElement.element;
+      // Remove all search-result items when selections are fully cleared
+      dropdown.querySelector('.dropdown-content').addEventListener('change', () => {
+        if (!dropdown.querySelector(`input[name="${fieldName}"]:checked`)) {
+          optionsContainer.querySelectorAll('[data-from-search]').forEach(label => label.remove());
+          resultsContainer.innerHTML = '';
+        }
+      });
 
-    let searchTimeout;
-    choicesElement.addEventListener('search', (event) => {
+      searchInput.addEventListener('input', () => {
         clearTimeout(searchTimeout);
+        const query = searchInput.value.trim();
+
+        if (query.length < 2) {
+          preserveCheckedResults();
+          resultsContainer.innerHTML = '';
+          return;
+        }
+
         searchTimeout = setTimeout(async () => {
-            try {
-                const searchTerm = event.detail.value;
-                const response = await fetch(
-                    `${searchUrl}?q=${encodeURIComponent(searchTerm)}`
-                );
-                const options = await response.json();
-                choices.setChoices(options.results, 'id', 'text', true);
-            } catch (error) {
-                choices.setChoices([{value: 'error', label: `Failed to load ${parameterName}`}]);
-            }
-        }, 500);
-    });
+          try {
+            const response = await fetch(
+              `${searchUrl}?q=${encodeURIComponent(query)}`
+            );
+            const data = await response.json();
 
-    choicesElement.addEventListener('change', function (event) {
-        choices.setChoices([], 'id', 'text', true);
-    });
-})();
-</script>
+            // Get currently selected values to avoid duplicates
+            const selected = new Set(
+              [...dropdown.querySelectorAll(`input[name="${fieldName}"]:checked`)]
+                .map(input => input.value)
+            );
+
+            preserveCheckedResults();
+            resultsContainer.innerHTML = '';
+            data.results.forEach(item => {
+              if (selected.has(String(item.id))) return;
+
+              const label = document.createElement('label');
+              label.className = 'flex gap-2 items-center my-1';
+
+              const input = document.createElement('input');
+              input.type = 'checkbox';
+              input.name = fieldName;
+              input.value = item.id;
+              input.className = 'checkbox checkbox-sm checkbox-primary border-base-content/20';
+              input.autocomplete = 'off';
+
+              label.appendChild(input);
+              label.appendChild(document.createTextNode(' ' + item.text));
+              resultsContainer.appendChild(label);
+            });
+          } catch (error) {
+            resultsContainer.innerHTML = '<span class="text-error text-sm">Search failed</span>';
+          }
+        }, 300);
+      });
+    }
+  })();
+  </script>
+{% endblock field_template %}