diff --git a/packages/x-data-grid-pro/src/components/headerFiltering/GridHeaderFilterCell.tsx b/packages/x-data-grid-pro/src/components/headerFiltering/GridHeaderFilterCell.tsx
index 8a73ef0aab68a..3baf7f25dd5c5 100644
--- a/packages/x-data-grid-pro/src/components/headerFiltering/GridHeaderFilterCell.tsx
+++ b/packages/x-data-grid-pro/src/components/headerFiltering/GridHeaderFilterCell.tsx
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ const GridHeaderFilterCell = React.forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, GridHeaderFilterCe
 
     const onKeyDown = React.useCallback(
       (event: React.KeyboardEvent) => {
-        if (isMenuOpen || isNavigationKey(event.key) || isFilterReadOnly) {
+        if (isMenuOpen || (event.key !== ' ' && isNavigationKey(event.key)) || isFilterReadOnly) {
           return;
         }
         switch (event.key) {