diff --git a/otk/eventdispatcher.cc b/otk/eventdispatcher.cc
index 07164f0b..ad44fe2e 100644
--- a/otk/eventdispatcher.cc
+++ b/otk/eventdispatcher.cc
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ void OtkEventDispatcher::dispatchEvents(void)
 
 void OtkEventDispatcher::dispatchFocus(const XEvent &e)
 {
+  // ignore all focus changes from grabs
+  if (e.xfocus.mode != NotifyNormal)
+    return;
   
   if (e.type == FocusIn) {
     //printf("Got FocusIn!\n");