diff --git a/packages/vuetify/src/labs/VDateInput/VDateInput.tsx b/packages/vuetify/src/labs/VDateInput/VDateInput.tsx
index f0303033cf0..2789dd34a94 100644
--- a/packages/vuetify/src/labs/VDateInput/VDateInput.tsx
+++ b/packages/vuetify/src/labs/VDateInput/VDateInput.tsx
@@ -135,8 +135,6 @@ export const VDateInput = genericComponent<VDateInputSlots>()({
 
       if (!menu.value || !isFocused.value) {
         menu.value = true
-
-        return
       }
 
       const target = e.target as HTMLInputElement
diff --git a/packages/vuetify/src/labs/VDateInput/__tests__/VDateInput.spec.browser.tsx b/packages/vuetify/src/labs/VDateInput/__tests__/VDateInput.spec.browser.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..492858395c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/vuetify/src/labs/VDateInput/__tests__/VDateInput.spec.browser.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Components
+import { VDateInput } from '../VDateInput'
+
+// Utilities
+import { commands, render, screen, userEvent } from '@test'
+import { ref } from 'vue'
+
+describe('VDateInput', () => {
+  it('accepts keyboard input even if the picker is hidden', async () => {
+    const model = ref<Date | null>(null)
+    const { element } = render(() => <VDateInput v-model={ model.value } />)
+
+    await userEvent.click(element)
+    await commands.waitStable('.v-picker')
+    expect(screen.getByCSS('.v-picker')).toBeVisible()
+
+    await userEvent.keyboard('{Escape}') // hide picker, but keep the focus
+
+    await commands.waitStable('.v-picker')
+    expect(screen.getByCSS('.v-picker')).not.toBeVisible()
+
+    const input = screen.getByCSS('input') as HTMLInputElement
+    await userEvent.type(input, '02/20/2022{Enter}')
+
+    expect(model.value).toBeDefined()
+    const formatter = new Intl.DateTimeFormat('en-US', { dateStyle: 'medium' })
+    expect(formatter.format(model.value!)).toBe('Feb 20, 2022')
+  })
+})