diff --git a/packages/material-ui/src/Chip/Chip.js b/packages/material-ui/src/Chip/Chip.js
index 7c57c94e69276f..9755a7b8afeb4d 100644
--- a/packages/material-ui/src/Chip/Chip.js
+++ b/packages/material-ui/src/Chip/Chip.js
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ const Chip = React.forwardRef(function Chip(props, ref) {
     label,
     onClick,
     onDelete,
+    onKeyDown,
     onKeyUp,
     size = 'medium',
     variant = 'default',
@@ -294,6 +295,21 @@ const Chip = React.forwardRef(function Chip(props, ref) {
     }
   };
 
+  const isDeleteKeyboardEvent = keyboardEvent =>
+    keyboardEvent.key === 'Backspace' || keyboardEvent.key === 'Delete';
+
+  const handleKeyDown = event => {
+    if (isDeleteKeyboardEvent(event)) {
+      // will be handled in keyUp, otherwise some browsers
+      // might init navigation
+      event.preventDefault();
+    }
+
+    if (onKeyDown) {
+      onKeyDown(event);
+    }
+  };
+
   const handleKeyUp = event => {
     if (onKeyUp) {
       onKeyUp(event);
@@ -304,10 +320,9 @@ const Chip = React.forwardRef(function Chip(props, ref) {
       return;
     }
 
-    const key = event.key;
-    if (onDelete && (key === 'Backspace' || key === 'Delete')) {
+    if (onDelete && isDeleteKeyboardEvent(event)) {
       onDelete(event);
-    } else if (key === 'Escape' && chipRef.current) {
+    } else if (event.key === 'Escape' && chipRef.current) {
       chipRef.current.blur();
     }
   };
@@ -393,6 +408,7 @@ const Chip = React.forwardRef(function Chip(props, ref) {
       aria-disabled={disabled ? true : undefined}
       tabIndex={clickable || onDelete ? 0 : undefined}
       onClick={onClick}
+      onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
       onKeyUp={handleKeyUp}
       ref={handleRef}
       {...moreProps}
diff --git a/packages/material-ui/src/Chip/Chip.test.js b/packages/material-ui/src/Chip/Chip.test.js
index 8b5a83781a3b7f..976dadd66091b4 100644
--- a/packages/material-ui/src/Chip/Chip.test.js
+++ b/packages/material-ui/src/Chip/Chip.test.js
@@ -362,10 +362,21 @@ describe('<Chip />', () => {
       ['Backspace', 'Delete'].forEach(key => {
         it(`should call onDelete '${key}' is released`, () => {
           const handleDelete = spy();
-          const { getAllByRole } = render(<Chip onClick={() => {}} onDelete={handleDelete} />);
+          const handleKeyDown = spy(event => {
+            return event.defaultPrevented;
+          });
+          const { getAllByRole } = render(
+            <Chip onClick={() => {}} onKeyDown={handleKeyDown} onDelete={handleDelete} />,
+          );
           const chip = getAllByRole('button')[0];
           chip.focus();
 
+          fireEvent.keyDown(document.activeElement, { key });
+
+          // defaultPrevented?
+          expect(handleKeyDown.returnValues[0]).to.equal(true);
+          expect(handleDelete.callCount).to.equal(0);
+
           fireEvent.keyUp(document.activeElement, { key });
 
           expect(handleDelete.callCount).to.equal(1);