diff --git a/src/authentic2/manager/role_views.py b/src/authentic2/manager/role_views.py
index fed5957d3..22ba3361d 100644
--- a/src/authentic2/manager/role_views.py
+++ b/src/authentic2/manager/role_views.py
@@ -89,6 +89,13 @@ class RoleAddView(views.BaseAddView):
     success_view_name = 'a2-manager-role-members'
     exclude_fields = ('slug',)
 
+    def get_initial(self):
+        initial = super().get_initial()
+        search_ou = self.request.GET.get('search-ou')
+        if search_ou:
+            initial['ou'] = search_ou
+        return initial
+
     def get_form_class(self):
         form = forms.get_role_form_class()
         fields = [x for x in form.base_fields.keys() if x not in self.exclude_fields]
diff --git a/src/authentic2/manager/templates/authentic2/manager/roles.html b/src/authentic2/manager/templates/authentic2/manager/roles.html
index f43a052d7..3aa539896 100644
--- a/src/authentic2/manager/templates/authentic2/manager/roles.html
+++ b/src/authentic2/manager/templates/authentic2/manager/roles.html
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   <span class="actions">
   <a class="extra-actions-menu-opener"></a>
   {% if view.can_add %}
-    <a href="{% url "a2-manager-role-add" %}" rel="popup">{% trans "Add role" %}</a>
+    <a href="{% url 'a2-manager-role-add' %}?{{ request.GET.urlencode }}" rel="popup">{% trans "Add role" %}</a>
   {% else %}
     <a href="#" class="disabled" rel="popup">{% trans "Add role" %}</a>
   {% endif %}
diff --git a/tests/test_role_manager.py b/tests/test_role_manager.py
index 6afacc66c..b4933853b 100644
--- a/tests/test_role_manager.py
+++ b/tests/test_role_manager.py
@@ -197,3 +197,11 @@ def test_manager_role_import_selected_ou(app, admin, ou1, ou2):
     response = response.form.submit()
     response = response.click('Import')
     assert response.pyquery.find('select#id_ou option[selected]')[0].text == 'OU2'
+
+
+def test_manager_role_add_selected_ou(app, admin, ou1, ou2):
+    response = login(app, admin, 'a2-manager-roles')
+    response.form.set('search-ou', ou2.pk)
+    response = response.form.submit()
+    response = response.click('Add role')
+    assert response.pyquery.find('select#id_ou option[selected]')[0].text == 'OU2'