diff --git a/otk/messagedialog.cc b/otk/messagedialog.cc
index 21618981..c11a181e 100644
--- a/otk/messagedialog.cc
+++ b/otk/messagedialog.cc
@@ -112,6 +112,12 @@ const DialogButton& MessageDialog::run()
   return *_result;
 }
 
+void MessageDialog::focus()
+{
+  if (visible())
+    XSetInputFocus(**display, window(), None, CurrentTime);
+}
+
 void MessageDialog::show()
 {
   std::vector<DialogButton>::const_iterator it, end = _buttons.end();
diff --git a/otk/messagedialog.hh b/otk/messagedialog.hh
index d68c1726..cc8adc70 100644
--- a/otk/messagedialog.hh
+++ b/otk/messagedialog.hh
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ public:
 
   virtual void show();
   virtual void hide();
+  virtual void focus();
 
   virtual const DialogButton& result() const { return *_result; }
   virtual void setResult(const DialogButton &result) { _result = &result; }