diff --git a/openbox/place.c b/openbox/place.c
index e92ba632..341866c9 100644
--- a/openbox/place.c
+++ b/openbox/place.c
@@ -372,11 +372,13 @@ void place_client(ObClient *client, gint *x, gint *y)
 {
     if (client->positioned)
         return;
-    if (place_transient(client, x, y)            ||
-        place_dialog(client, x, y)               ||
-        place_smart(client, x, y, SMART_FULL)    ||
-        place_smart(client, x, y, SMART_GROUP)   ||
-        place_smart(client, x, y, SMART_FOCUSED) ||
+    if (place_transient(client, x, y)             ||
+        place_dialog(client, x, y)                ||
+        (!(config_focus_follow && config_focus_new) ?
+         place_smart(client, x, y, SMART_FULL)    ||
+         place_smart(client, x, y, SMART_GROUP)   ||
+         place_smart(client, x, y, SMART_FOCUSED) :
+         FALSE)                                   ||
         (config_focus_follow ?
          place_under_mouse(client, x, y) :
          place_random(client, x, y)))