diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapCarousel.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapCarousel.cs
index 2f12194ede..073d75692e 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapCarousel.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapCarousel.cs
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@ using osu.Game.Rulesets;
 using osu.Game.Screens.Select;
 using osu.Game.Screens.Select.Carousel;
 using osu.Game.Screens.Select.Filter;
+using osuTK.Input;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.SongSelect
 {
     [TestFixture]
-    public class TestSceneBeatmapCarousel : OsuTestScene
+    public class TestSceneBeatmapCarousel : OsuManualInputManagerTestScene
     {
         private TestBeatmapCarousel carousel;
         private RulesetStore rulesets;
@@ -39,6 +40,43 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.SongSelect
             this.rulesets = rulesets;
         }
 
+        [Test]
+        public void TestKeyRepeat()
+        {
+            loadBeatmaps();
+            advanceSelection(false);
+
+            AddStep("press down arrow", () => InputManager.PressKey(Key.Down));
+
+            BeatmapInfo selection = null;
+
+            checkSelectionIterating(true);
+
+            AddStep("press up arrow", () => InputManager.PressKey(Key.Up));
+
+            checkSelectionIterating(true);
+
+            AddStep("release down arrow", () => InputManager.ReleaseKey(Key.Down));
+
+            checkSelectionIterating(true);
+
+            AddStep("release up arrow", () => InputManager.ReleaseKey(Key.Up));
+
+            checkSelectionIterating(false);
+
+            void checkSelectionIterating(bool isIterating)
+            {
+                for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
+                {
+                    AddStep("store selection", () => selection = carousel.SelectedBeatmap);
+                    if (isIterating)
+                        AddUntilStep("selection changed", () => carousel.SelectedBeatmap != selection);
+                    else
+                        AddUntilStep("selection not changed", () => carousel.SelectedBeatmap == selection);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         [Test]
         public void TestRecommendedSelection()
         {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs
index e174c46610..6f913a3177 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ using osu.Framework.Extensions.IEnumerableExtensions;
 using osu.Framework.Input.Bindings;
 using osu.Framework.Input.Events;
 using osu.Game.Beatmaps;
+using osu.Game.Extensions;
 using osu.Game.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Game.Graphics.Cursor;
 using osu.Game.Input.Bindings;
@@ -301,6 +302,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
 
         private void selectNextDifficulty(int direction)
         {
+            if (selectedBeatmap == null)
+                return;
+
             var unfilteredDifficulties = selectedBeatmapSet.Children.Where(s => !s.Filtered.Value).ToList();
 
             int index = unfilteredDifficulties.IndexOf(selectedBeatmap);
@@ -452,32 +456,49 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
         /// </summary>
         public void ScrollToSelected() => scrollPositionCache.Invalidate();
 
+        #region Key / button selection logic
+
         protected override bool OnKeyDown(KeyDownEvent e)
         {
             switch (e.Key)
             {
                 case Key.Left:
-                    SelectNext(-1, true);
+                    if (!e.Repeat)
+                        beginRepeatSelection(() => SelectNext(-1, true), e.Key);
                     return true;
 
                 case Key.Right:
-                    SelectNext(1, true);
+                    if (!e.Repeat)
+                        beginRepeatSelection(() => SelectNext(1, true), e.Key);
                     return true;
             }
 
             return false;
         }
 
+        protected override void OnKeyUp(KeyUpEvent e)
+        {
+            switch (e.Key)
+            {
+                case Key.Left:
+                case Key.Right:
+                    endRepeatSelection(e.Key);
+                    break;
+            }
+
+            base.OnKeyUp(e);
+        }
+
         public bool OnPressed(GlobalAction action)
         {
             switch (action)
             {
                 case GlobalAction.SelectNext:
-                    SelectNext(1, false);
+                    beginRepeatSelection(() => SelectNext(1, false), action);
                     return true;
 
                 case GlobalAction.SelectPrevious:
-                    SelectNext(-1, false);
+                    beginRepeatSelection(() => SelectNext(-1, false), action);
                     return true;
             }
 
@@ -486,8 +507,44 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
 
         public void OnReleased(GlobalAction action)
         {
+            switch (action)
+            {
+                case GlobalAction.SelectNext:
+                case GlobalAction.SelectPrevious:
+                    endRepeatSelection(action);
+                    break;
+            }
         }
 
+        private ScheduledDelegate repeatDelegate;
+        private object lastRepeatSource;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Begin repeating the specified selection action.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="action">The action to perform.</param>
+        /// <param name="source">The source of the action. Used in conjunction with <see cref="endRepeatSelection"/> to only cancel the correct action (most recently pressed key).</param>
+        private void beginRepeatSelection(Action action, object source)
+        {
+            endRepeatSelection();
+
+            lastRepeatSource = source;
+            repeatDelegate = this.BeginKeyRepeat(Scheduler, action);
+        }
+
+        private void endRepeatSelection(object source = null)
+        {
+            // only the most recent source should be able to cancel the current action.
+            if (source != null && !EqualityComparer<object>.Default.Equals(lastRepeatSource, source))
+                return;
+
+            repeatDelegate?.Cancel();
+            repeatDelegate = null;
+            lastRepeatSource = null;
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+
         protected override void Update()
         {
             base.Update();